Pope Francis Calls on Us to Be Better Drivers

Columnist David Brooks shares the details of the New Year's Eve homily delivered by Pope Francis, who spoke on the subject of "the artisans of the common good." That is, the normal folks, influencing society "through their normal, everyday gestures being kind in public places, attentive to the elderly."

According to Brooks, the homily "focused especially on driving, praising those people 'who move in traffic with good sense and prudence.'" Brooks goes on to list some of the moments that reveal the selfish and competitive among the drivers.

Driving is governed by law, but it’s also shaped by norms. If enough people adopt the same driving style, then that behavior hardens into a communal disposition. Once people understand what is normal around here, more people tend to drive that way, too, and you get this amplified, snowball effect. Kindness breeds kindness. Aggression breeds aggression.

Brooks goes on to survey the known instruments for measuring the driving culture of specific geographic areas, and delivers a final appeal to make better choices when behind the wheel.