[Avodah] [Areivim] Halacha of speeding/Jewish ethics curriculum development help

[Daniel Israel]

Quoting Harry Maryles <hmaryles at yahoo.com>:
> --- On Thu, 10/15/09, Daniel Israel <dmi1 at cornell.edu> wrote:
> What I have seen is three positions.  1. DMD doesn't apply, so the   
> only issues are chillul HaShem and endangering.  2. DMD does apply   
> and speed limits must be obeyed.  3. DMD applies, but goes according  
>  to the law as observed/enforced, not as written.
> ---------------------------------------------------
>  I would say that DMD does apply WRT to speeding laws.
>  But I would also say that it is not a CH to speed slightly above  
> the  limit - especially on an expressway. That's because the simple  
> truth  is that everyone does it and it is not unsafe to do so. In  
> fact if  one drives at the limit on any expressway here in Chicago  
> (where the  limit is 55mph) one may in fact be creating a CH because  
> virtually  all drivers will look at you strangely if not angrily as  
> they pass  you up.
>  Which brings up the following question. If following DMD causes a  
> CH  - what is the proper course of action? Should we violate it in  
> order  to avoid the CH? My quick answer is yes.

Not to pick on RHM specifically, as I respect (although sometimes  
respectfully disagree with) his opinions, but I am distressed by the  
lack of sources on this topic.  Issues such as this, and the  
principles underlying them, are things we need to act on every day.   
How can we act on them in a Torah consistent manner if we don't have  
Torah sources to base our decisions on.

I'm not sure if I'm more bothered by the thought that the poskim  
haven't addressed these issues, or that they have but we on A/A are  
ignorant of what they've said.

Of course, there is also the third possibility that I'm the only  
ignorant one.  In which case I would find it a distressing wake up  
call to improve my learning skills.  But if this is the case, can  
someone please enlighten my ignorance?

-- 
Daniel M. Israel
dmi1 at cornell.edu