If you want to get a sense of how healthy a culture is, check its driving habits. If that's too over-
whelming, select individuals—such as your husband/wife, sons/daughters, classmates/colleagues—and do the same.
And if you want to be really brave and personal, test yourself.
Good driving habits involve such seemingly picky practice as obeying all traffic signals and signs, maintaining appropriate speed limits, and treating other drivers with the respect they deserve. The inverse is also true, probably to a greater degree.
I am not sure if you have had proper driver's training (from your mother, like I did), or perhaps you learned by the seat of your pants (literally). Either way, I think I can help you out.
Let's start with colours. Work with me, people: Green means “go,” yellow means “slow,” and red means “no.” That was simple, wasn't it? Yellow, by way, does not mean “pedal to the metal.”
I will also suggest to you that when the speed limit says “110,” it is probably a safe bet that it means, uh, 110; you might get away with no more than 120--but certainly not 140. You see, I understand there is a grace amount--some legal wiggle room, if you will—that even peace officers allow for. After that, it's kerpow, right in the kisser.
One of the scariest moments in any driver's experience is this notion of road rage. I know, I know, you would never drop an f-bomb, or give a two-finger salute (minus one finger), or even make threatening gestures at drivers who cut you off. Or at least admit it in public.
But road rage is perhaps the most obvious example I could give in my metaphor here, that is, driving habits as a reflection our culture. Think of the anger, the impatience, the me-ism, all wrapped up in our reaction to the alleged wrongs caused by others. You're quickly asking, I'm sure: Is he talking about our culture or our driving habits? My point exactly.
Even something seemingly as trivial as blasting through a red light or consistently going over the speed limit speaks volumes for where we're at. These are reflections of a lifestyle where pushing the limit, doing first and foremost what we want to do (at the expense of others), and snubbing what's best for the overall public safety, and you see that the symbolism fits well. Only too well.
In an old mannish way, I feel really good when I see cars slowing down on an amber light, stopping at a red one. Even yesterday, I waved to another car, allowing him to nudge in front of me. Man, I felt like both a good person and good driver. It made me want to blow the horn—my own horn, that is.
You get it now, don't you? Driving is not one part of our life, with everything else in another part. If I'm a selfish jerk at home, I will quite likely be a road hog. If I am rude at work, I will likely be a weasel behind the wheel. If I am always pushing for my way and my things first, I'm bound to be rogue on the road.
I suppose there is always the problem of being too polite, too slow, or too obedient, but this is clearly the lesser of two evils. Whether it's living or driving, I do have occasional issues with people who just seem to be too good to be true; I just want to trip them or something. Mind you, if I tried that with a driver, I could get my foot run over.
So next time you're in Lethbridge or Medicine Hat—maybe even Bow Island or Foremost—check out how people drive. Maybe even check out how you and yours drive. It might be quite revealing. I'm not saying you need to arrest yourself, but you may want to assess yourself. Step back and analyze where you could improve your attitude towards the world around you.
You might even ask yourself: What's driving me?
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