Driving mindfully

For many of us driving is an inconvenient and time-consuming daily routine. Traffic jams, poor road conditions, and reckless motorists have become familiar nuisances in this daily ritual. The heart-sinking sight of mangled vehicles on the road and the wailing sirens of ambulances rushing to the scene of an accident offer a grim reminder of the dangers we face every time we step into a vehicle. Yet, driving has become such a mindless activity that we often eat, use the cell phone, and even apply make-up while at the cockpit of two-ton vehicle traveling at tremendous speeds.  The laws of physics are not very forgiving. Even a split-second lapse in attention can lead to disastrous consequences.

We must never confuse mindful driving with sitting meditation. In sitting meditation we attempt to reduce sensory input by focusing our attention on a specific meditation object, such as our breath.  In mindful driving we do not want to enter a deep meditative trance that may limit our field of vision and compromise our ability to react quickly in emergency situations.  What we want to achieve in mindful driving is a heightened state of alertness in which awareness is directed simultaneously at all the perceptions and physical actions necessary for safe driving. If you find that you’re spacing out as you drive, then you’re not driving mindfully.

Mindful driving is defensive driving in that everything we do is intended to maintain a wide margin of error.  It may be helpful to visualize your vehicle as a physical extension of yourself, and any harm to your vehicle may bring harm to yourself and others.   Your car is simultaneously our tool of transportation, a protective armor against the elements, and a potentially deadly weapon.  In mindful driving, we are more attentive to our position and speed relative to those of other vehicles on the road, so that we can maintain a safe distance from them.

Just like mindful anything else, mindful driving entails keeping our awareness in the present moment.  By staying in the present moment and being more attentive to our changing environment, we are better prepared to deal with circumstances as they present themselves.

Apart from increasing safety, mindful driving also enriches the quality of time we spend driving.  Whenever we step into a car, we usually are concerned with only the expectation of arriving somewhere.  Seen merely as a means to a desired outcome, driving becomes a mindless chore that takes away from our precious time.  When our attention is fixed on the destination, anything that impedes our progress, such as a traffic jam, a pothole, or another driver, has the potential to trigger anger, frustration, and hostility within us.

When we drive mindfully, on the other hand, driving is just as important as getting somewhere.  We accept potholes and rude drivers as the inescapable conditions of driving and are less like to become frustrated by them.  Every stoplight or traffic jam presents an opportunity to catch up on our breathing and bring our awareness back to our bodies. It may be helpful to check the side and rearview mirrors once in a while to maintain an all-around awareness.  Awareness of the rapidly environment actually amplies our awareness of our own bodies. If the traffic is too fast to stay in the present, try shifting to the slower lane.

While driving, silence is our ally.  It may help to turn off the radio and to limit conversation with other occupants. Removing these distractions would lighten the burden on our attention, allowing us to allocate more of it to productive perceptions, such as those related to our personal well being.  Take notice of any bodily tensions or negative emotions that may develop in your body.  Trace these feelings of discomfort to their sources.  If you feel irritated that another car just cut in front you, where in your body does the sensation originate?  Even though your natural response would be to feel indignation, you must realize that the destructive emotion is your problem, not the other driver’s.  It does not make sense to compound the discourteous act of another driver by taking it personally.