The Zen Traffic Warrior
“I used to be pushing and pushing to get ahead… but now I am like the Zen Warrior… It’s a completely calm existence…”
This short 7 minute video by Bill Beaty shows how he has learned to drive in dense traffic, leaving a long gap between himself and the car in front.
This reduces the need for him to hit the brakes, and as a result all the traffic behind him flows smoothly at the speed he sets.
By avoiding the stop-go pattern of braking and accelerating, his driving produces smooth traffic flow. Impatient drivers can overtake, and he lets them in.
This shows how the intelligent actions of one driver can have a beneficial influence on a whole stream of traffic.
And a beneficial effect on the driver too – towards the end of the clip, Bill talks about how serene he feels driving this way.
“Now I’m the philosopher that’s helping everyone around me… It’s a totally different life as a commuter when you do it that way.”
See Bill’s website: www.trafficwaves.org
Compiled by Zen Moments
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This is a great video, and I tried the technique, but it’s no match for LA traffic. Still, it’s a lovely thought…
Thanks – It’s Bill’s peaceful, patient attitude that’s lovely to watch.
I guess the more the idea of being a “Zen Traffic Warrior” gets around and the more people try it, the better this way of driving will work for everyone – you’d be very welcome to use our post on MotherProof – It’s a great site you have there!
We have some places that have stoplights closer than the distance he leaves. In that case someone would step outside of his car in the middle of traffic to beat this guy up. Then again, I think he is used to road rage incidents with driving like this