Reflections on Urban Driving: Part 1

Driving has been a part of the American culture for nearly a century.  From its humble begins as an alternative to the horse and carriage, the phaeton and ponies, the automobile has captured the hearts of Americans and opened the culture to communication and interaction that has since become complacently accepted.  The only reminder of the value of driving for the American culture came with the spike of the price of oil which followed Hurricane Katrina.  As an American male who is particularly fond of the roadways and the scenic beauty that urban sprawl and nature possess, I’ve decided to set aside my thematic mainline blog entries from theological reflections to social reflections on virtuous living vis-à-vis the automobile.  This entry will focus on two items as part of an ongoing series of reflections.  This reflection will focus on driving while distracted and the absence of consideration amongst drivers.

Driving while distracted can take many forms and varies by the driver.  The two distractions that I personally observe almost daily are texting and driving and the morning application of make-up.  According to the website, textingwhiledrivingsafety.com, in 2011 23% of all car crashes involved cell phone use.  Even more astonishing is the statistic that a single act of texting removes the attention of the driver an average of 5 seconds.  The site states that driving at 55 mph, a text message will have distracted the driver for a distance of an entire football field.  Also texting while driving during periods of heavy congestion can create unnecessary stop and go as the driver is delayed in keeping with the pace of traffic. 

Texting has become a mainstream form of communication and is a valuable mode of communicating thoughts and messages with expediency.  However, the discipline of the driver must overcome the perception that there is an urgency to text while driving.  We have already reviewed one source that details the risk of texting while driving.  The reflection I wish to offer is developing consideration of others on the roadway.  The first consideration is to realize that while on the roadway, we are still in community with our fellow motorists.  

Driving, the action itself, seems rather innocuous.  But it can be a means of developing personal holiness and virtue.  The stress of the modern, urban roadway presents a series of challenges.  During peak driving, we find ourselves sharing the roads with countless neighbors whom we’d never encounter otherwise.  It is during this time, we can find opportunities to be good stewards of the road itself.  Most of drive with a set destination in mind and the urgency with which we seek to arrive there varies.  Consideration of others involves opening our minds and hearts to the needs of others.  We do not have to replace our needs with the needs of the other motorists but can share the need for primacy and right of way.  A simple consideration is during peak congestions of highway travel to not linger unnecessarily in the right lane unless our exit is near to allow for easier merging by motorists entering the highway.  Heightening awareness is a skill which is intended by many defensive driving courses which attempt to ask drivers to anticipate the actions of other motorists.  I have observed that drivers will “drift” towards the side of the lane when they are considering a lane change.  By creating space through altering one’s travel space, the driver with heightened awareness can assist other drivers in making their lane choice more efficiently.  At highway speeds, temporarily altering one’s speed for a few seconds affects the arrival time by only seconds.  This can also mitigate the risk of cutting someone off and preventing road rage. 

We cannot alter the mood of other drivers but we can positively affect the driving environment for all motorists we share the road with.  By reducing or eliminating our desires to drive while distracted and increasing our consideration of other motorists, driving can become less stressful and more enjoyable.  Drive safe, my friends, drive safe.