“What does the guy think he is doing, cutting in my lane like that?!”
“I could have hit him! The guy is not even wearing a helmet! Does he have a death wish?!”
“How do such people get a license to drive???!”
All of us have uttered these lines at least once. We let out frustrated comments like these almost every time we go on the road and have a close shave. Needless to say, driving in India is a stressful experience.
Not only do these close encounters raise our stress levels, but they also lead to a loss of concentration. And, as we all know, we are more likely to get into a crash if we do not concentrate while driving. Keeping ourselves calm is important for keeping ourselves safe on the roads.
No, I am not asking you to meditate while driving! And neither am I going to suggest that you count to 10 (or 100!). Both these methods calm you in general, but may not always be practical while driving.
I personally use and suggest the stoic approach to road safety to remain calm and safe on the road.
Stoic? What is that?
Stoicism is a philosophy that originated more than 2000 years ago in Greece. Amongst its numerous teachings, the stoic philosophy asks us to follow a simple principle:
- Split everything into two categories: things we can control and things we cannot control.
- To forget about the things that are out of our control. Focus only on the things within our control.
That’s it. The principle is that simple. It is also key to living a simple, stress-free life.
If you want to know more about Stoicism, you can check this video. Or read the books Meditations by Marcus Aurelius or Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. You will not regret it.
This simple Stoic principle has many implications in our life. Especially in road safety.
How can the stoic approach help you be safe on the road?
Let us look at a daily scenario to see how the stoic approach can be put into practice:
You are driving calmly in your lane, minding your business. Suddenly another vehicle cuts into your lane from the side. You try to avoid a collision with the other vehicle by steering and/or braking. But, your vehicles still collide. The other vehicle speeds away from the spot. You curse the other driver but continue driving.
“Why can’t these idiots learn to drive?!” is a common thought in all such situations. It is also likely that you will continue thinking about the other driver throughout the day. You may also suffer a loss in concentration due to anger.
But, you know what? In a few days (or even hours!) you will come across another driver who will cut your lane. What will you do then? Will you hope for all drivers to mend their ways? Is that even possible?
There is nothing we can do to change the action of others. But, if we do not control how we react to the mistake of others, it is often that we would get hurt ourselves. We need to change the way how we react while driving.
Driving with the stoic approach
Here is how a stoic would react to the same scenario:
- First, differentiate between what is in your control (your driving behavior) and what is not in your control (the other vehicle cutting in).
- Once you realize that you can only change your own driving, the next step is to introspect. Could you do something different to prevent the same scenario from occurring again:
- Were you attentive? Did you see the other vehicle approaching from the adjoining lane or road? If not, was there a blind spot in your vision that needs to be corrected?
- What about your vehicle’s speed? Were you traveling over the speed limit? Was your speed low enough that, in case of a sudden lane cutting, you had enough time to react?
- Were you following the markings on the road and driving in your lane or were traveling in between two lanes? (driving in-between lanes increases the chances of a lane cutting)
You may wonder “Why should I introspect? It is the other guy’s fault!”, and you may very well be right. It may be possible that there was no incorrect behavior from your side. But, it is wrong to assume that you will always be right. Most drivers do this. That is why we keep on encountering the same issues again and again.
Irrespective of your driving experience, always look for improvement. This is what differentiates a great driver from an average/bad one.
This is the stoic approach. It doesn’t matter what the other driver did. That is out of your control. The only thing in your control is your driving behavior. In fact, the principles of ‘Defensive Driving’ also take their roots from stoicism. The best way to keep yourself safe on the road is to reduce your chances of you being involved in a crash. Focus on what you can control.
I used the stoic approach. But, I was still involved in a crash. Does it mean that the stoic approach failed?
No!
You may still get in a crash in spite of taking the stoic approach. But, it does not mean that the stoic approach failed you!
The stoic approach will help you even when a crash does take place.
Every crash has two major phases: The events that lead to the crash and the events that lead to the injuries.
To understand this better, let us take the same example of lane cutting.
- The sudden lane cutting by the other vehicle is the event that led to the crash.
- Once there is a crash, we experience the events that led to injuries. Assume that you are driving in a car and the “lane-cutter” is a truck. Physics says that a collision between a car and a truck will harm the car occupants more. You may not be able to prevent the crash. But, you can surely take steps to prevent injuries to those in your car.
Can you think of something that protects you inside a car? How about a seat belt? Wearing a seat belt is entirely in your control! Just the simple act of wearing a belt can save you from injuries. Your safety is always in your hands!
Examples of the stoic approach
There are many steps that you can take for safety. All of these are in your control!
- Practice Defensive Driving to always remain in control of any situation. A Defensive Driver is prepared even before the drive!
- Want to ensure that you are safe from stronger impacts?…… Get a car with good build quality or more safety features!
- Sometimes, even a higher NCAP-rated car may not be enough to keep you safe. Remember to always wear a seatbelt, even when you are seated in the back.
- Want to ride safely on a bike?…wear a helmet! If possible, also wear a safety jacket!
- Want to ensure the safety of your children in the car or on the bike?… Get a child car seat or have your children wear helmets!
- Walking on the road?…always follow the guidelines for pedestrian safety.
There are many situations on the road where your safety is always in your control! Always remember the stoic approach.
Road Safety Requires a Calm Mind
Traveling on Indian roads can be a very risky affair. The behavior of road users is often unpredictable.
However, what the other road users are doing is beyond your control. Follow the stoic approach to road safety by focusing on things that are in your control. Let everything else go.
Remember, it may not be your fault if an errant driver hits you from behind or you come across a pothole on the road while on a bike. But, it is your fault if you were not wearing a seatbelt or helmet and got injured due to somebody else’s mistake.
Your safety is always in your hands!
Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by RohanG