Drivers caught speeding now have papal backing as Pope Francis urged police to show 'mercy' towards those who break the rules.
'Mercy is not a sign of weakness' he said on Monday at a meeting with traffic police in Italy.
'Nor does it require giving up the use of force.'
But Francis admitted drivers were 'transforming the streets into Formula One tracks' as he said roads were 'increasingly complex and tumultuous'.
Lifestyles of 'haste and a competitiveness' has led to people viewing other cars 'as obstacles or adversaries to be overtaken, transforming the streets into Formula One tracks', he said.
The pontiff also criticised those who use mobiles at the wheel.
'We must take into account the limited sense of responsibility of many drivers, who often do not seem to realise the serious consequences of their distraction,' he said.
Francis has tended to shun 'Formula One' style luxury in his vehicle choice in favour of simplicity. When he landed in America in 2015 the pope opted for a Fiat 500 rather than a lavish SUV alternative and when at home in Rome he uses a 2008 model Ford Focus.
