The חפצנו לחיים organization promoting road safety is publicizing a psak Halacha from Gedolei Yisrael Shlita explaining cautious driving habits are compulsory on all drivers towards saving lives. The rabbonim of the road safety vaad; Rav Simcha HaKohen Kook Shlita, Rav David Yosef Shlita, Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern Shlita, Rav Naftali Nussbaum Shlita, and Rav Baruch Shraga Shlita are working to get the message across to the tzibur at large.
The rabbonim asked HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita about the Halachic requirement to be a safe driver, to which the Gadol Hador is quoted as saying “It’s Pikuach Nefesh”.
HaGaon Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein Shlita adds to these words as many prepare to head for Meron on Lag B’Omer, highlighting a driver is not only responsible for his own life but for the lives of others as well and one’s actions may harm others in addition to oneself.
Adding to these words is HaGaon HaRav Usher Weiss Shlita, who explains the Halachic responsibility for drivers to be cautious and obey vehicular regulations. He points out that one heading out on the long journey to Meron and is tired places the well-being of many people in jeopardy and therefore, one may not drive under such conditions.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Baruch HaShem. Now that the Gedolim have spoken, all the frum yidden will become good, safe drivers. People will listen to them about this, just as they listen to them about everything else they say. I feel so much safer already.
WHY oh WHY do we need a psak TORAh to be cautious and careful on the roads? Have we fallen to such depths of ‘Brain Lock’ that we can not think or figure out anything on our own??? This is terribly distressing!!
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (in Halichos Shlomo, Hilchos Tefila) holds that it is assur to say a brocha while driving. He gave two reasons: If you say the bracha with as much kavana as you ought to, then you couldn’t possibly be paying enough attention to the driving. And if you drive with as much attention as you ought to, then you couldn’t possibly be giving the bracha enough kavana.
ZIonflag,
It is difficult to understand how any sane individual can have an issue with an effort to encourage safer driving habits.
Government agencies do it all the time. There is a big not for profity in the US called MADD that focuses on such campaigns.
Is your issue perhaps because there are Rabbonim supporting this. Do you have a problem with a ban on unsafe driving?
nishtdayngesheft says:
April 26, 2013 at 2:58 pm
I think he is saying do we need a halacha for everything even common sensical things
Are you for real? or do u just assume that everyone posts and comments with anger and hostility.
MADD is Mothers’ Against Drunken Driving and they have made the biggest impact in reducing Drunken Drivers and have saved numerous lives. Baruch Hashem!
“This is terribly distressing” that we need G’dolim and Manhigim to direct us to drive with caution, use safety and wear seat belts. We need our G’dolim to guide us, encourage Mitzvah Observance……on this issue will people now be more cautious since the G’dolim have given a psak, if the answer is yes then excuse my #2 post.
Thank Gd, I came to this conclusion years ago with a bit of sechel and daas.