Is speeding always a mortal sin?

[AllyO]

I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on speeding. I don’t mean excessive speeding, obviously that is always very wrong. I mean keeping up with traffic and going around 5/10 kilometers over the posted limit.

The Catechism states:

2290*“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”*

Would this mean that all speeding is a grave sin?

Thanks.

AllyO

 

[Nelka]

Is it a mortal sin?

Going a coupe of miles per hour over the limit shouldn’t be, going 200mph maybe?

 

[powerofk]

I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on speeding. I don’t mean excessive speeding, obviously that is always very wrong. I mean keeping up with traffic and going around 5/10 kilometers over the posted limit.

The Catechism states:

2290*“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”*

Would this mean that all speeding is a grave sin?

Thanks.

AllyO

It depends on the circustances, AllyO. Driving 5-10 miles per hour (approx 8-15 km/hr) over the speed limit on an open expressway with not much traffic isn’t gravely sinful (venially sinful, maybe, as we would be disobeying local government, which we are expected to follow as long as the law is not immoral); however, speeding in areas with heavy traffic, especially in city streets, and most especially in residential areas and school zones, where many children are present, could be gravely sinful. Pretty much, speeding is gravely sinful when it is done in blatant disregard to safety of self and/or others - and what counts as blatant disregard depends on the situation.

 

[Fuerza]

Going a few mph over the limit, assuming safe road conditions, is definitely not a mortal sin, if even a sin at all. Governments impose speed limits assuming that people will go somewhat faster. The unofficial rule in my town, where I work as a police officer, is that we will not even stop someone for less than 12 mph over the limit, and our judges refuse to hear cases for such minor violations. All the neighboring agencies follow similar practices. Now it’s not that speeding can’t be sinful, but it’s not as big of a deal as most people seem to think as long as one isn’t being reckless.

 

[St_Francis]

I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on speeding. I don’t mean excessive speeding, obviously that is always very wrong. I mean keeping up with traffic and going around 5/10 kilometers over the posted limit.

The Catechism states:

2290*"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"*

Would this mean that all speeding is a grave sin?

Thanks.

AllyO

The part that I bolded shows when grave guilt (objectively mortally sinful) is incurred. This can happen at almost any speed: 20 mph in a crowd of little children, 45 in a blizzard, etc. The problem is the endangering of lives.

 

[ethereality]

Dude, read what you quoted:

The Catechism states:

2290*“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”

I don’t know how you’ve made the conclusion that this applies to all speeding. It clearly doesn’t apply to the case of “maintaining the flow of traffic” if going the marked speed limit would pose a threat to careless drivers behind you. It applies as it is literally written – to those who are drunk, to those who love going fast, and through one of these conditions endangers others.

Also, grave sin is not identical to mortal sin. Mortal sin must be grave matter and committed with full knowledge and full consent. When they say “grave sin”, they mean it would be mortal sin if the person does it with full knowledge and full consent. In other words, by the phrase ‘grave sin’ they are saying that the first condition of mortal sin, ‘grave matter’, has been met. They are not saying whether the sinner does it with full knowledge and full (free) consent. In other words, it is possible to commit grave sin (incur grave guilt) as venial sin through ignorance or coercion. (God is grieved/offended and you have done something very evil, but it does not constitute turning your back on God.) ‘Venial’ does not mean ‘light’; it simply means ‘not mortal’.

I hope this completely answers your question.

 

[Bill_Martin]

The part that I bolded shows when grave guilt (objectively mortally sinful) is incurred. This can happen at almost any speed: 20 mph in a crowd of little children, 45 in a blizzard, etc. The problem is the endangering of lives.

Exactly.

The point is not to endanger others. If you’re driving a rustbucket with brakes that haven’t been changed since the Eisenhower administration, it may be sinful to willfully drive at the speed limit, if doing the speed limit means you are going too fast to control your vehicle.

Simply speeding may be a venial sin if it does not put others in danger, but I certainly don’t think 5-10 mph over the limit when there are no other factors in play is a problem. 5 mph may even be within the margin of error of your speedometer anyway. Just accept your fine if you get a ticket.

 

[AllyO]

I’m am very grateful for all the replies I have received. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to write back, it has really eased my mind on the issue!

AllyO