Is it a sin to drive while sleep-deprived?

[jjb5985]

I have recently read about laws in certain states (not mine) making it illegal to drive with no sleep in 24 hours, making comparisons with drunk driving. I am very much against drunk driving but I have been guilty of driving after pulling an all-nighter. I’ve usually felt fine, never have almost nodded off, and I would pull over if I ever felt like I was a danger to myself or others. I have felt more drowsy at times after several full nights of sleep. I will probably confess regardless, but ask for future reference with work or school for the occasional few times a year where I may need to drive with little sleep.

Does the Church take a stand on this or is it up to one’s own reasoning as to whether he is okay to drive? Did I commit a grave matter of reckless driving (objectively) or am I a hyprocrite for doing this while preaching against drunk driving?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air
(CCC 2290).

While sleep deprivation is not exactly the same as drunkenness, it is an impairment to safe driving that puts you and others at risk. And, like drunks who think they are safe to drive, the sleep-deprived driver should not trust his own judgment as to whether or not he is capable of driving safely.

If you know you have not slept in many hours, that alone is reason not to drive. Get a friend to drive, take a cab, or rent a motel room for the night, but stop driving while sleep-deprived, no matter how “safe” you may think you are. It is quite possible that so far you have merely been lucky or had angels guiding you. But as Jesus said to Satan when he was tempted to engage in a dangerous stunt, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:7).