Aug 27, 2009
Why speeding isn’t a sin and not speeding is: The authorities want us to break the speed limit.
Imagine the trouble you’d cause if you and several friends all went the speed limit next to each other at rush hour.
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© 2012 Abuyo. All rights reserved.
I’ve always wanted to do that.
I never will, but it strikes my sense of humor.
What happens if the authorities are your friends?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-Ox0ZmVIU
This is a video made by some Georgia State students doing exactly that on I-285 in Atlanta, GA.
An instructional video not only on the habits of drivers but also on the lack of something for college students to be seriously concerned about these days. Is’t there a war or something they could be protesting?
As someone who is usually not a formal logic guy, I can’t help but thinking there is in fact a logical fallacy here that actually makes a difference. Any logicians out there?
You can’t build general practice on exceptional circumstances, which would be what you’re proposing. (Though I suspect that “proposing” is a bit strong of a word for this … perhaps “provoking”)
:-)
Myrddin, I’m going to defend my logic here.
With most any other law, if you and a group got together and all obeyed it at once, it would be perfectly normal.
All at once, we’re going to not steal.
All at once, we’re going to keep our radios at a moderate level in the alley.
Speaking of alleys…all at once we aren’t going to drive through a Mpls alley after dark if our house isn’t on that block.
The fact that it would wreak havoc if everybody kept the speed limit represents that this law is different than almost every other. And this is regardless of the fact that it would take an exceptional situation to prove it.
i’m with scott (below). the only reason it would cause a problem is because it’s so ubiquitously disobeyed. so in reality, the majority are the ones causing the trouble. also, as noted elsewhere, the left-hand lanes are generally for passing only, and so it would also be breaking the law for one to cruise there indefinitely. but i don’t think this is something to get all twisted up about.
shouldn’t the title be “when speeding isn’t a sin…” or “why speeding isn’t a sin sometimes…”
who the heck do i think i am to go and try to correct THE abraham piper? i think i’m going to shun myself.
If everybody kept the speed limit, all at once, how does that wreak havoc?
that is exactly what i just asked aloud.
Using the same logic, you could say that the authorities actually want you to go slower than the speed limit in order to avoid the hypothetical havoc.
This seems to be the intent of the law as written, but it is certainly not how it actually plays out.
A matter of conscience?
I would disagree with you. Not primarily because going faster than the state’s posted limit is a sin, but because of what is going on in the heart at the time. Most people will not go the speed limit because they’re embarrassed of what other drivers will think of them – that’s pride. God has called us to obey the authority placed over us. Would you cause trouble as assumed? Maybe, maybe not. We cannot speak with decisiveness on this issue because “the authorities”, in this country, change every 2-6 years.
If everyone obeyed the speed limit, would the authorities still want us to break it? Using the logic in question, which laws is it OK to break? Which ones do the authorities really, “secretly” want us to break?
Said another way, “The authorities want us to speed because then we’d cause less trouble.” Why is the obedient one viewed as the trouble-maker? Why aren’t the law-breakers viewed as trouble-makers? Why am I blamed for other’s self-centeredness and pride?
And what’s the definition of “trouble” here? Inconvenience for the one speeding? Frustration of self-motivated plans? Do you have a right to go 70 mph and I not have a right to go 55?
“My law says ‘bring a spotless lamb for sacrifice’, but since everyone else is bringing spotted lambs, if you bring a spotless one then everyone else will look bad and get frustrated and angry at you. So I REALLY want you to bring a spotted one.”
Very rambling on my part, my apologies. But I think that this secular law in particular draws out more heart issues than any other.
In general, I try to follow the speed limit religiously unless people around/behind me are getting annoyed or if I’m being a hindrance to traffic…I’ve done it before to avoid road rage too, but I feel like in general it’s possible to not be a bother and still obey the speed limits.
In Michigan, where I live, I believe driving abreast across all lanes at the speed limit would be illegal, because the law states that the left lane is for passing, not for cruising. I got a warning once for driving in the left lane.
It’s one thing to honor the law; it’s another to do it in a matter which intentionally irritates others.
I think you might be speaking of a safe, middle ground.
There is a speeding that is folly–when two people are trying to go much faster than the rest of traffic, but one of them is getting in the way of the other. This usually results in an odd alternating tailgating sort of game, played out at high speeds. I saw two such silly displays of this on 35E this morning.
Thanks for saying that. I’ve had that conversation with Christians who believe we’re required to obey ever law exactly as written. They fail to see that the government doesn’t intend nor desire everyone to actually obey the speed limit.
Besides the obvious traffic congestion created by everyone going the speed limit, the government also needs some people to speed in order to generate revenue through ticketing. I know that’s not a reason to speed, but it is a reason speed limits are set too low.
Furthermore, there’s a better reason to speed than congestion. Civil engineers have developed a principle for the optimum, safest speed limit; it should be set at the 85th percentile of the natural speed of traffic.
Most states even have laws requiring speed limits to be set according to the 85th percentile. Of course, states also usually have caveats that allow them to break their own principle. For example, in my state of Florida, no speed limit can ever exceed 75mph, and any road that has more car crashed than average can have a limit set below the 85th percentile.
Interesting, the Florida DOT commissioned a study of Florida Interstate Highways and found that not all but two segments of roadway had 85th percentile speeds above the posted limit. One segment even had an 85th percentile speed of 90mph.
So, everyone obeying the speed limit would cause congestion. It would deprive the government of revenue, leading to budget cuts or tax increases. And the speed limits are routinely set at speeds that are actually more dangerous than speeding.
My prof has a theory about “principles of acceptable deviance.” Basically, the difference between the letter of the law, and what is socially acceptable. Generally, at least in a democracy, the former is always catching up to the latter.
Also, think of the revenue loss for the state (or county, or whatever) if no one sped. That’s why there are speed traps– they need the money.
Cities don’t expect you to drive the speed limit on the main streets (Lyndale, Hennepin) because if they did they would set the timing of the stoplights different. As it is, if I drive 30mph (as is posted) I would have to stop at every light. If I drive 45mph though (like everyone else) I make every light.
Also in Texas, the law reads to the effect, ‘Drive the speed limit or a safe speed’, which might be 80mph on some occasions.
I grew up in Texas and usually the “safe speed” provision is used to ticket people going the speed limit in inclement conditions. Texas also has night and day speed limits on highways which used to not be posted but were covered under that provision. Now the night limits are posted as well so there is no doubt they want you to drive slower at night.
Here in Dallas, the cops drive next to each other on the busy highways while going the speed limit. It’s just a little frustrating when you’re late for an appointment.
Sorry for the follow up, but I once saw them on I-635 in Dallas in all six lanes, just going 55. It seemed like we were there for hours.
Some old stick in the mud I listened to one time said,
“Jesus is over the government. Keeping the speed limit is Christian worship! How you doing, all you snot-heads, when you say, you seventeen year-olds, “oh, this is just kind of a rule of thumb”? Your pride behind your steering wheel stinks in heaven! “I will get there on time; I don’t care what the servant of my God says. Not a big issue.” This is just a small illustration of the arrogance of the human soul. That’s a big issue.”
Can anyone tell me who said it? :-)
I began making a conscious effort to obey the speed limit after listening to a sermon by John Piper on Romans 13:1-7. This sermon convicted me regarding my speeding. It is worth listening to…
I didn’t mean to bring the conversation to an end, I just was impacted by the quote.
Todd
http://experiencingreformation.blogspot.com/2007/12/subjection-to-god-and-subjection-to.html
Did Piper really say “snot-heads”?
Yeah, really! I thought it was funny…
He may have been thinking of me, apparently.
Lol! I’ve been the subject material of sermons before… :-)
I agree with Todd. Not that I’m following the rules myself all the time. I come from the land of the Autobahn and driving is wonderfull back home. The left lane is for passing ONLY! People for most of the time are very disciplined, imagine to pay over $2000, and an intensive drivers training (about 4 months), who would like to jeopardize that. But God is truly convicting me here about my speed. it is hard and most people are doing it right in the open so often I do not feel so bad and I pray that will change with HIS help. Just maybe, if everyone follows the speed limit driving here would be less stress full. Besides,that would please God so much, because in our frustration about how “other drivers drive” the things that are going on in our hearts are not pleasing to God. Not only do we have to repent about violating the Law of the land, but also about the hardened heart towards HIS creation.
It’s all about creating Shalom – Peace. Which is more peace-inducing? Going at or under the speed limit and driving everyone else around you nuts (and possibly even being a safety hazard), or going with the flow of traffic and causing less problems in the grand scheme of things?
My sister-in-law got ticketed for going 5 under the speed limit on a highway because she was seriously obstructing traffic. Good for that police man, I say, even though I understand her frustration.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say across the bar one is sin and one is not. It is in good part a matter of conscience.
However, I too believe in obeying the spirit of the law rather than the letter of it. If traffic laws are for our safety and breaking one makes us safer, then I’m all for it.
I also make allowance for the fact that speed limits are written for all vehicles, and I drive a compact car that stops much faster and can also navigate turns easier than most vehicles. In short, I would never, ever condone a truck driver driving the way I do :).
i once heard a radio interview with an engineer responsible for setting speed limits and he explained that the speed limits are not about lowering the number of accidents but about reaching zero deaths on the highway. so when they calculate the speed limits they try to figure out what speed would cause human fatality in the case of an accident. so that is basically set according to the size of the road and the safety technology of the oldest cars on the road.
You might change your mind if you drove on SoCal freeways. It’s almost like we need speed limits for each lane out here.
Left lane is mostly used for passing and getting in and out of carpool lane (highest speed lane).
Middle two lanes are 65-75 mph and act as the long-haul lanes.
Right lane is for big trucks, slow moving vehicles, exiting vehicles–it’s cool to stay in the right lane and chill at 55mph. People can pass you if they want to get around.
But then again, that’s just my experience on SoCal freeways. Some people follow absolutely no unwritten rules at all. Which really stinks for everyone else.
I’m a chronically late person and I used to speed to make up time because I didn’t leave the house soon enough. Other times, I would speed because I was impatient and just wanted to get where I was going more quickly. Those two things had absolutely nothing to do with keeping up with the flow of traffic or trying to appease the drivers around me.
I also know how I felt about those drivers around me when I was trying to zip by and they were driving too slowly (probably going the speed limit). I would get frustrated (okay, angry) and became more and more impatient. By personality, I’m laid-back and very rarely “lose my cool.” I have been told, numerous times, I’m an extremely patient person, so getting super impatient on the road was way out of character.
In summation, I VERY seldom drive above the posted limit now. I find my driving is much more relaxing for me than it used to be, which makes my overall attitude better when I get to where I’m going. Personally, driving the speed limit is not really a law-abiding thing, but something I do feel makes me a better Christian because of the more peaceful outlook I have in regards to being on the road. I’m still chronically late, but that’s a whole different subject.
There seems to be a few snags in the logic. They are well addressed.
For what it’s worth, as a matter of prudential judgment, I usually drive 5 – 7 mph over the speed limit. So my logic point has nothing to do with the sin issue, in my mind.
I would agree that going roughly that fast over the speed limit is the prudential judgment in light of the law.
I’m not sure how the first statement requires the conclusion in the second. Neither of the statements are actually completely true.
1. “Not speeding” isn’t a sin unless you deliberately refuse to drop off the accelerator to change lanes so that you avoid becoming a block to the normal flow of traffic. Your statement seems to suggest that drivers are incapable of playing nice and taking common steps to avoid blocking traffic. Obviously, breaking speed laws isn’t the only solution to driving neck and neck with adjacent lanes: just slow down 5mph and drop behind the car you were pacing with!
2. “The authorities want us to break the speed limit”–huh?
I think there’s some straw man argument going on here.
BTW, after spending 28 years in southern CAL and coming back here in 1993, we saw then and still see it today: it really seems like freeway driving in the Twin Cities area is like a free for all by all teenaged drivers, with everyone pretending they are “really hot stuff” because they have freeways now!…drivers generally seem far more aggressive and inexperienced than we were accustomed to in the Los Angeles basin at any hour of day and any day of the week. California drivers seemed to take pleasure in “making the freeways work”, keeping traffic flowing smoothly, making “the impossible merge” work out for the trucker so he didn’t have to shift down and lose 5-6 gears going up the Grapevine, etc.
Around the Twin Cities, it seems like every driver for himself. We truly hate having to drive there at all and avoid it as much as possible.
…and, by the way, I nearly always obey the posted speed limit for the unspiritual but practical reason that I can’t afford to pay the fines that would result if I get ticketed.
If those behind me want to drive 10mph over, I just move over and let them. I’m not in charge of their driving and would never “block a lane” by persistently driving the speed limit. That’s just silly.