Motormouth: Pope Francis might turn me into a kinder driver, or at least make my driving less unchristian

The historical visit by Pope Francis to Asia Pacific made this freethinker rethink my motoring attitude and pray for more kindness on the road from every motorist.

When I was a twentysomething motorist in the 1990s, driving my very first car, a quirky hatchback powered by three hardworking Japanese hamsters, I was a bit impatient and sometimes irritated by other road users who didn’t drive properly (as narrowly defined by my motoring-writer bible). 

When I was a thirtysomething motorist in the 2000s, driving a string of speedy Jap pocket rockets, I became even more impatient and oftentimes irritable on the road, stupidly subscribing to the misguided gangsta driving philosophy of “fast & furious, young & dangerous”. 

When I became a fortysomething motorist in the 2010s, with an awesome German hot hatch, I finally mellowed behind the wheel, taking the rough with the smooth not only on roads and highways, but also on the roadway of life where I was already at the melancholic midpoint.

When I hit fifty in 2023, already on my seventh car, everything slowed down - driving, dreaming, working, playing, living, and aspiring to anything. My current car is sporty and fairly fast, but its default driver is unsporty and no faster than a senior hamster walking in an old wheel.    

As a fiftysomething, I started registering the automotive acts of kindness I didn’t really notice when I was younger, faster and dumber. 

For instance, drivers looking out for bikers, yielding to other vehicles as a courteous gesture, giving precious time and space to pedestrians at crossings, and assisting fellow motorists when needed. 

I feel this sporadic spirit of kindness among Asian road users getting supercharged by Pope Francis visiting Singapore, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papau New Guinea.

His meaningful Catholic messages resonate with good people, regardless of religion, because the universal words of wisdom are about supporting the poor and needy among us, speaking out for world peace and social justice, and advocating greater interfaith understanding. 

In the motoring context, I hear the spiritual leader of all Roman Catholics telling/compelling me to take care of “poor” drivers who need help (e.g. with parking or to stay safe), drive in a peaceful manner with due consideration for other people, and respect the different types of drivers (slow, fast, confident, uncertain, good, bad, ugly, etc) in all traffic situations.

Simply put, my motoring behaviour henceforth shall be less unchristian, thanks to the Holy Father. But I won’t be going to church anytime soon, because I’m still a closet Civic devotee worshipping the temple of VTEC.