Catholic Driving Tips: Pope's Vehicular 'How To'

Motoring Channel Staff - 21/June/2007

Vatican City, Italy — Drivers looking for divine guidance will be interested to know that the Vatican has released a 35-page document outlining the dos and don'ts of all things car related.

Called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" the document lists a number of positives related to driving, such as getting sick people to the doctor, and allowing people to see other cultures, and there's also a useful '10 Commandments' for road users and guidelines on car ownership. The paper also suggests people pray while behind the wheel.

The 10 steps of the highway to heaven feature some fairly common sense rules, such as "No Killing" but there's nothing about cutting off other drivers or keeping left unless overtaking. 

Tenet #5 argues "Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin." A large number of drivers buy their vehicles chiefly for expressing their power and wealth, and recent increases in demand for exotic and prestige cars are testament to this. 

Furthermore, this tenet could be seen as a hypocritical suggestion, because many of the recent Pope Mobiles and vehicles used by the Vatican have been expensive luxury cars that communicate importance, such as the Mercedes AWD used in São Paulo, Brazil, early in 2007 (pictured).

The document reads: "Cars tend to bring out the primitive side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results," and points the finger at motorcyclists and youngsters and adults without full driving licenses. It reads: "Danger also derives from city cars, which are driven by youngsters and adults who do not have (full) driving licenses, and the reckless use of motorbikes and motorcycles.''

Renato Cardinal Martino, the man responsible for the document, said that driving is now a pivotal part of modern life, and the Vatican therefore felt obliged to provide guidance.

"We know that as a consequence of transgressions and negligence, 1.2 million people die each year on the roads," Mr Martino said. "That's a sad reality, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

The Ten Commandments (for road use):

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not-so-young not to drive when they are not in a fit condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible towards others.

At the time of writing, there was no word on whether Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and other religious majorities will release documents for their followers relating to road use.