If you can keep your distance when, behind you,
a fellow motorist cannot keep his,
and with his full-beam headlight, tries to find you
more timid than he likes to think he is;
if you can wait to change your lane with caution
and not encroach on someone else’s space,
thus favouring to each his own proportion,
as is his right and yours with equal grace;

If speed and not expedience was your master,
bethink you now which course would prove more brave:
to thunder down the highway to disaster
and suffer rescuers to find your grave,
or manfully to bear the law’s restriction,
maturely to uphold the Highway Code
and reason with your own wise jurisdiction
the safety regulations of the road;

If you commit that inadvertant bloomer
which you are bound to, being flesh and blood,
but can admit it humbly and with humour
though all about may swear your name is Mudd;
if you can heed the unexpected warning
that indicates some accident nearby,
obey the limit other folk are scorning
yet cause no queues by slowing down to pry;

If you can take the back-seat-driver’s nagging,
show patience when denied your right of way,
forgive the senior citizen his lagging,
remembering that you’ll slow down one day;
if you have read these verses acquiescing,
or if you’ve only understood the gist,
yours is the forward progress worth progressing,
and, which is more, you’ll be a motorist.