How Do you Drive?

Richard Hollerman

I do a lot of walking early morning and notice that there are a number of motorists out. Maybe they are going to work. Or maybe they are getting off work and going home. I doubt that many are out “joy riding” at that time of the day. They come to a stop sign and drive on through or they stop and then go.

However, I do notice that a certain percentage of these drivers violate the traffic laws. In fact, I suppose that at least 50% to 80% or more of the drivers break these laws—although I’ve never taken a count of them. I must admit that I have often wondered how so many drivers break one law or the other.

I may be somewhat naïve since I am a Christian regarding this matter, but it is somewhat of a shock or maybe the correct term is a dismay regarding the traffic laws. I wonder in my mind, “How can these drivers violate the driving regulations so often?”

In order to understand what I mean here, let’s turn in your Bible to Romans 13:1-2:

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and those who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

This would mean that we are to be in subjection to the government or police department. This is established by God. But the one who resists authority (including the traffic laws) will receive condemnation upon himself. Are we prepared for this?

Another passage from Scripture that should concern us is this: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution [including the traffic laws], whether to a king [or a president or the local police department] as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14). Of course, there is much here that would speak to this matter of traffic laws and the police department. Do we “submit” ourselves to the one in authority?

We also find that Titus 3:1 speaks to this: “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.” Would disobeying the traffic regulations cause us to be subject or not subject to governmental authorities? What would be our attitude toward “rulers”?

We might also think of the words of Jesus at Mathew 22:21 (Mark and Luke also speak of this). Consider this: “Render to Caesar [the government] the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Of course, if we were to be required to do something wrong and sinful, we must refuse (Acts 4:19-20; 5:19) but otherwise, we must submit ourselves to the governmental authorities.

The question that we must ask ourselves in light of these requirements would be: Do you submit to governmental rules or laws or regulations? Earlier we spoke of the traffic regulations but there are many other laws that we are to obey, as Christians and law-abiding citizens:

  1. Do you obey the traffic laws regarding speed on the highway?
  2. Do you pay your taxes?
  3. Do you obtain and pay according to local regulations?

We must remember also that this doesn’t just apply to America but to every country in the world. If you are living in China, in Germany, in India, in Australia, in Nigeria, in Columbia, or in South Africa, do you obey the local laws and regulations in your area? If you live in Canada, Nepal, or England, do you also keep God’s directions in this matter? Do you keep in mind the words of Jesus, of Peter, of Paul, and of the Word of God in general that would apply to you?

Think of the ways to obey the Lord by submitting to the government under which you live. Also think of the many ways that you may violate the will of the government of America or the nation under which you live. Particularly apply this to your driving. (We are aware that many of you don’t have a car at all and merely walk, or ride a horse, or ride a bus, or ride a street car, but here we refer to a personalized motor vehicle.) So think of the ways that you violate the government in your driving.

Just here, let’s focus on how you drive.

  1. Do you obtain the proper permissions that would enable you to drive your car or truck?
  2. Do you properly maintain your vehicle in your driving?
  3. Do you obey the government regulations on speed, turns, stops, and every other law?
  4. Do you obey the government in all of their written regulations?
  5. Do you submit yourself to the signs that the human authority wants you to obey?

This would be a sample of the various kinds of questions that you must ask in order to follow the regulations and requirements of the government. We realize that many of you don’t have the ability to pay for a vehicle thus this may not apply to you. However, to those of you who do own a car or truck these are some of the questions that you may want to ask of yourself.

We noticed a message online that might help all of us:

Following the speed limit helps you lower the odds of an accident and reduce your risks. It does this because speeding, especially to a reckless degree, can:

  • Reduce your field of vision. This is most pronounced in your peripheral vision, where you may miss a lot at a high speed.
  • Make you more likely to lose control. Perhaps the greatest danger is when you suddenly enter a corner going faster than the road design allows.
  • Reduce your reaction times. Reaction times shrink with speed and distance. If you’re driving quickly and you see a hazard, the difference between two or three seconds in reaction time could be the difference between crashing or stopping.
  • Cause you to drive aggressively. When you speed, you often catch up to traffic ahead. This can lead to aggressive swerving between lanes, dangerous passes and tailgating.

You can see why it’s important to follow the speed limits, but the others around you may not be nearly as safe.

This is the sort of article that can go on and on, but we hope that there have been a few comments and suggestions in the foregoing article that may be of help to you. As someone has said, we are to drive like Christians! We are to drive, let us drive toward others. To use many of the words of Jesus our Lord, we are to “drive unto others the same way that you want them to drive unto you” (cf. Luke 6:31).

See also:

https://www.hc-firm.com/blog/2021/10/4-reasons-not-to-break-the-speed-limit/