Top Haredi Rabbis Condemn Mobile Phone Use While Driving

Prominent rabbinical judges and decisors from the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector have issued a strong statement against traffic violations, distracted driving, and the use of mobile phones while operating a vehicle. The rabbis, including Rabbi Shariel Rosenberg, Rabbi Yehuda Silman, and Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Rubin of the Rabbinical Court in Bnei Brak, released an unusual letter calling for a determined fight against road accidents and "road bullying."

The ruling emphasizes that road safety and adherence to traffic regulations are not mere recommendations but full religious and civil obligations. "Driving without caution involves constant danger to life," the rabbis warned, adding that "anyone who takes this lightly may be guilty of the grave offense of bloodshed."

A significant portion of the statement addresses the issue of distracted driving, particularly focusing on public transport drivers and those using mobile phones while driving. The rabbis strongly condemned the practice of texting, dialing, and talking on phones during operation of a vehicle, deeming it a direct endangerment of passengers and pedestrians.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the ruling concerns the civil duty to report dangerous driving. Despite historical sensitivities within the Haredi community regarding reporting to state authorities, the rabbis unequivocally stated that preventing loss of life supersedes all other considerations. According to the directive, anyone witnessing dangerous driving, even by an acquaintance or family member, is obligated to warn them immediately. If the driver persists, the rabbis instructed individuals to consult a rabbinical authority to seek permission to act through the appropriate channels, aiming to revoke the driver's license and ensure legal consequences.