Thou shall not drive under the influence of alcohol. Thou shall respect speed limits. Thou shall not consider a car an object of personal glorification or use it as a place of sin.

Add in Thou shall not speed home after a fete and this could become the backbone of new policies for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services Highway patrol to enforce.

But these rules came in from the Vatican on Tuesday as they issued a 36-page document called “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road” containing “Ten Commandments” for motorists covering everything from road rage, respecting pedestrians, keeping a car in good shape, avoiding rude gestures while behind the wheel, abuse of alcohol or even simple rudeness in an effort to keep them on the road to salvation.

With the historic, current and seemingly future state of the roads in Trinidad that has increasingly more cars than roads it would be wise to look at these rules regardless of one’s religious background and take stock, not of one’s horsepower but one’s personal driving habits. Plus in true Vatican style they indicated that it wouldn’t hurt to pray while driving.

The Ten Commandments for Drivers

I. You shall not kill.
II. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
III. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
IV. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
V. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
VI. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
VII. Support the families of accident victims.
VIII. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
IX. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
X. Feel responsible towards others.

Do you think these commandments could make a difference on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago or are other items playing a factor and can be combined with these in order for any difference to be seen?