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Drivers' Ten Commandments

What right timing could there be when front page and coverage of every reading material is talking about Paris Hilton’s hot issue on drunk driving when the Vatican recently issued the 10 Commandments for motorists.

Although Paris is now out of jail, the issue remains hot as a pancake. Many would agree that regardless of her social status, she broke the law and hence, should pay the price. Indeed, she paid. Her path to jail began in September last year when she was spotted zigzagging on the street for a late-night hamburger grabbing. She then failed a DUI test and pleaded no contest to reckless driving.

Interestingly, during the recently held press conference at the Vatican City, Cardinal Renato Martino expressed great concern on the notorious driving habits of motorists and hence, the Office for Migrants and Itinerant People have issued the "Driver's 10 Commandments". The unusual document warning people about the effects of road rage, also stated that driving can bring out "primitive" behaviour in motorists, including "impoliteness, rude gestures, cursing, blasphemy, loss of sense of responsibility or deliberate infringement of the highway code."

While to buckle up is very important, the document most importantly urged people to pray while behind the wheels, saying that cars can be "an occasion for sin" from road rage and drunken driving to becoming vehicles for prostitution. It also urges motorists to obey traffic regulations and drive with a moral sense.

And so, as listed by the Vatican's Office for Migrants and Itinerant People,
here are the "Drivers' Ten Commandments":

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 neighbour 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 fitting 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 toward others.

Now that’s hot!