10 commandments for motorists CLICK TITLE FOR STORY ON REUTERS

I agree with the pope (weird for me to say that) that cars bring out the primitive in people although I think praying in cars is probably as distracting as talking on cell phones. I have almost been run off the road on more than one occasion by people that would probably be nice and docile if you met them in a restaurant or at work. 

I think people behave the same way in bars as well. There you have alcohol and its power to cast an illusion of invincibility over you combined with sweaty close proximity to others. In a bar it is a herd mentality like cattle. The littlest noise for cows or an innocent bump and subsequent spilling of a $5 beer for humans can lead to all sorts of chaos.

Anyway in cars I think people revert back to some kind of primitive competition on the highways. I have often had people pass me using the right exit lane only to cut in front of me at the last minute before they would have to exit. I have also had people pass me on the left only to cut me off at the exit and then we both come to the stop light at the same time. Mind you I don't drive slow to begin with. People cannot stand to follow behind someone perhaps because they tend to have to follow behind others for every other aspect of their lives. I guess cars make people feel free.

I think people should stop and realize that there is a person in the other car like you and would you act this way to that person face to face. If nothing else it may actually prevent you from getting shot or stabbed if the person you mistreat on the road happens to be unstable and armed (not an unlikely scenario in large metropolitan centers).