The Law is Inside Us, Not an External Constraint

Posted by Strangely Cycling Add comments

Oct 302008

Currently there is an inquest in Essex into the death of a young woman, Natalie Wade, who was hit by a car driven by three quarters blind pensioner, John Thorpe.

‘Blind’ driver kills bride-to-be

Natalie’s stepfather, David Gutberlet, said,

“We would like to see the law changed as a result of our daughter’s death. The law should be changed so people like him aren’t on the road. He was an accident waiting to happen. We want to make it safer for both road users and pedestrians.”

Unfortunately for Mr Gutberlet, (and I feel for his grief), the law is strong enough and perfectly clear. We do not need extra laws to stop this kind of behaviour. It’s like saying that we need new laws to stop murder – which is plain nonsense, as the laws already exist and have done so for millenia.

John Thorpe, who was 78, plainly took the decision to ignore traffic laws which have existed since he passed his test. It was his fault. He chose to ignore the law. One wonders what other laws he chose to ignore in his 78 years on the world…

This is one page from the government literature on the subject:

Legal obligations of drivers and keepers of vehicles

On that page are a string of very simple, clearly defined requirements for people to abide by as a condition for driving vehicles on the road. Eyesight is one, and insurance, something that, it’s claimed, 1 million drivers don’t have, is another.

So the law, or it’s observation, is inside us all. It’s enforcement is outside us, for those times when ourselves and others can’t manage to be civilised. So maybe, in view of this tragic case, it’s that, and the procedures surrounding it, that need improving.

Self

There is of course, one’s personal responsibility to oneself. Natalie (and the two others) were hit on a pelican crossing by Thorpe. However, I keep saying to my children, and have done so all their lives, and so far, it’s worked,

“Always keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when some twat will come off the road and come piling into you!”.

My kids are used to my language, and it’s with good reason that I use this phrase for effect. I’ve been perilously close to such incidences, and see them almost daily on my bicycle. So while not being at the scene, I can imagine that the three people were naturally excited and distracted that day, shopping, and felt safe on an official crossing spot. That’s exactly when my phrase above kicks in. And it’s the Buddhist view of the world and events therein.

I’ve mentioned this several times before, like here and here. In my view, the word “accident” should be banned from traffic reports. Smashes and crashes are hardly ever accidents. Someone, or some people collectively, have nearly always behaved like complete and utter thoughtless twats and no amount of laws and punishments will stop them doing so.

This is the aspect of our culture and civilisation that needs to change. We need a world where people take responsibility for all aspects of their own, and other’s, lives. Nichiren’s Buddhism does this.