Driven To Distraction.

“You must submit to [the authorities], not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.” (Rom.13:5)

It had been a long day. And it wasn’t over yet: a 90-minute round trip to attend evening class was the Final Act of this one. It’s a routine journey, each week during term time, along main and minor roads across Norfolk. In our county, all reasonable roads lead to Norwich; the rest go all over the place – in sundry and diverse manner, you might say!

Anyway, heading home after the seminar, I was looking forward to a light supper and some refreshment to settle me for the night. Not far from where I live there is a “notorious” stretch where traffic is corralled from 60mph, to 40mph, to 30mph in about 400 yards of main road. I have done it thousands of times, and the knack is to reduce speed gradually to where the approaching 30mph sign, with its flashing yellow lights, gives you fair warning of the speed limit ahead. It’s still a bit frustrating if, like me, you just want to get to the end of the road as quickly as possible, speed-limits notwithstanding. And this is a tempting straight stretch after some miles of bends. It is, however, residential - hence the national speed limit.

(High Kelling. Image EDP)

I confess that I do drive at the very edge of speed limits, frequently nudging up beyond them if the road is clear. I must admit I was a bit distracted as I was thinking through some of the ideas we had been discussing about Biblical prophecy and the Prophets, in particular, Amos. Thus preoccupied (or maybe “driving without due care and attention”?) I entered the 40mph section gradually lowering my speed until the 30mph sign was in sight. For some reason, partly due to the distractingly bright modern headlamps that ‘blind’ me, I think, I recall wondering why the 30mph lights weren’t flashing (they were) and consequently forgot to complete my slowing down procedure and rounded the curve too fast. At 10.25 at night with almost no traffic, I wasn’t unduly concerned. I know, of course, I should have been, but my attention was elsewhere.

Then, a tall policeman was standing in the road pointing a gun (speed detector) at me! His white wand turned red, and he indicated that I should slow down and turn into the side road where he and his partner were parked.

Busted.

He showed me the monitor with the recorded speed of 47 miles per hour.

Seriously busted.

Proceedings are to follow, needless to say, and I suspect, not only a fine but a number of days’ disqualification from driving.

And it’s not my first rodeo either, as a few years ago I got flashed by a camera in Norwich (at 8am on a Sunday morning – traffic control systems never sleep) and had to do a speed-awareness course.

This is entirely my fault, and I do not for one moment even entertain the smidgen of a thought that there are any mitigating circumstances, or that the Traffic Cop was being malicious or a pure jobsworth.

Fair cop, officer.

(Speed Camera, Dereham Road, Norwich, image EEN)

I might be a champion of God’s grace, even of being “not under law, but under grace,” but it would be absurdly crass of me to attempt to apply this doctrine when it comes to obeying the Highway Code, or any of the country’s domestic, civil, criminal, traffic and all the other laws.

On the affinity blog, John Eardly has an excellent summary of the issues facing disciples of Christ when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, especially in the case of speed limit obedience, and why. In Check your blind spot: Why Christians Must Rethink Their Driving Habits Eardly writes, Some of the most eye-opening moments in my Christian life have revolved around what can only be described as ‘motoring sins’. We all make mistakes—drifting slightly over the speed limit without realising it—but I’m referring to the unashamed speeding of otherwise exemplary Christians.

There are two essential points Eardly believes all Christians who drive should have at the forefront of their mind when behind the wheel:

1. Firstly: ‘You shall not murder.’ (Ex.20:13). A motor vehicle is a dangerous projectile when on the move and a destructive weapon at illegal speeds. The accelerator is as good (or bad) as a trigger on a loaded gun for all intents and purposes.

2. Secondly, ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established’ (Rom 13:1). Speed kills. He cites a 2017 study by the London School of Economics that showed that road accidents and fatalities fell significantly when speed cameras were installed. “The government,” he reminds us, “as ‘God’s servant for your good’ (Rom 13:4), is to be obeyed, not merely to avoid punishment but also ‘as a matter of conscience’ (Rom 13:5).”

I used to get very frustrated when my wife would constantly urge me to slow down even when I was just below or at the national speed limit. I used to be seething when I was her passenger too, and she would (and does) drive routinely up to 10 mph below standard speed limits.

Eardly again:

Are we embarrassed at the thought of being perceived as a killjoy for obeying the speed limit? If so, we should embrace the notion of being ‘fools for Christ’s sake’ (1 Cor 4:10). Or maybe we overestimate our abilities? An AA survey found that 100% of drivers considered themselves to be safe, despite one in 25 holding penalty points on their licence. Do we justify our behaviour with excuses like, ‘It’s the slow drivers who really cause accidents’ or ‘I can handle speed; I’ve never crashed’?

Could this be my blind spot? Could it be yours?

Paul (as well as Peter) is in no doubt about the difference between obedience to a nation’s government and its laws and righteous civil disobedience, especially where faithfulness to Christ is concerned. (Cf. Acts 5:27-32)

As far as adhering conscientiously to the speed limit, then, there is no question: I must obey - for many obvious reasons - and not let my ego, my carnal pleasure or thrill-addiction, or power complex be in the driving seat. As Paul also wrote: “Do not let sin rule in your mortal body.” That is what living under grace is about, not as an excuse for flouting the laws of the land.

Whatever punishment is meted out to me, I have deserved it, “to the last penny,” and I can only pray (as I do daily) to be transformed through this sobering reminder.

As Eardly concludes his article:

When faced with the facts, it’s hard to argue that speeding is ever acceptable. Yet, this blind spot is a revealing parable for how we can be so righteous in some areas of our lives and completely reckless in others, all while justifying our actions to ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts – through God’s word and through our brothers and sisters – as we seek to grow in godliness.

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139:23–24)