Question:
Is it a sin to speed in your car? What about on a road where most people regularly speed such as a freeway?
Answer:
Hello,
Although speeding is quite common, it can be a sin, for a number of reasons, depending on the circumstances. The first reason is because it is against the law, and we are obligated to adhere to the laws of the country, (called dina d'malchusa dina) which according to some poskim applies to laws based on personal safety. However is so far that the government does not enforce the law, then we don't have to keep to it, as we don't have to be more careful about the law than the government. For example, it is common in the United states that a person will not get ticketed when driving only a few miles over the speed limit. Therefore it is permitted to drive at that speed, because that speed is not enforced. This would include a speedway, where the regular speed, that everyone is driving, is over the official speed limit, and the police don't enforce it.
Another issue, which is more severe is that the person is endangering his, and other people's lives. In fact there were gedolim who said that a person who drives recklessly is akin to a murderer! Especially, in populated areas, where it can really hurt, or kill other people. This is aside from our personal obligation to be careful for our lives, "ushmartem meod linafshoseichem" (and you should be very careful for your lives). A person how put's himself in a dangerous situation, even if nothing happens to him, it is possible that although the person was saved, however the person can have merits deduct, which were used to save the person from the dangerous situation that he put himself into.
In short, speeding is not a good idea.
Best wishes
Sources:
שו"ת משנת יוסף ח"י ס' קע"ח שהעריך בזה, וכן ע' שו"ת שבט הלוי ח"י ס' רצא "וממילא פשוט דאסור ע"פ הלכה לעבור ברמזור אדום בכל הזמנים גם כשאין מכוניות מתקרבות ממש דהירוס הסדר מביא לידי סכנה בנפש כידוע". כן שמעתי מר' י. כהן שליט"א, וכן ראיתי מר' י. בעלסקי זצ"ל. אמנם שם כ' שבמקום שהמדינה אינו מקפיד על חוק מסוים כגון שהולכי רגל לא יחצה כביש במקום לא נכון, כיון שהם אינם מקפידים ע"ז אין בו חיוב מצד דד"ד.
