driving with empathy
Earlier this week, on the drive to work, I almost got run off the road by an aggressive driver. I see many of these people every day and it doesn’t depend on what route I take or what time I go.
As a nation we seem to be immensely capable of empathy, till we’re put into our automotive bubbles. Then all hell breaks loose. All that most of us seem to care about is that we get to wherever we’re going, as fast as possible. And while we’re at it, let’s make sure we use that time productively by talking constantly over the phone.
Defensive driving is good. But it seems to me that it’s missing the point somewhat. It’s still self-directed. And that’s just not good enough.
What is needed is education that teaches us to drive with empathy. Let’s use the time we spend on the road to make sure we’re thinking of everyone else who’s sharing that little space around us. If not already, they could be our friends and family in the future. At the very least, they’re someone just like us – just another fallible human.
