EVERYWHERE I LOOK I SEE CARS. Why are they everywhere and why does this matter?
A Brief History
It’s possible that car domination is the result of consumers getting what they want. However, the aggressive tactics and blatant corruption practiced by the auto and oil industry lead me to believe otherwise. I’ll spare all the boring details but here’s a quick example: In the 1940s-50s, General Motors and Standard Oil used front companies to buy streetcar companies, then replaced them with buses or removed public transit altogether. If you’re at all interested in this dull topic, this video (https://youtu.be/oOttvpjJvAo) explains a lot in an entertaining way. In an extensive century-long effort to sell as many cars as possible, the automobile industry has made it pretty hard to live without a car. It seems that we’re living the vision of the auto industry, not consumers.
What’s the Damage?
As a central feature of American society, car dependency has shaped the way Americans live (and die). Since the year 2000, car accidents have killed more Americans than both world wars combined (by a lot, ~800,000 vs. 522,000).
Car ownership is also financially challenging for those trying to escape poverty. As I write this in 2023, six million Americans are more than 60 days behind on car payments. Car expenses are nearly inescapable here in the U.S. due to the need for transportation and lack of alternatives, and it adds significantly to the rising cost of living.
Another significant yet often overlooked effect of car dependency is its burden on America’s already stressed healthcare. Varying estimates that account for deaths, injuries, and the health impacts of pollution set the price in the billions to hundreds of billions on healthcare expenditures.
Finally let’s look into the much overstated yet painfully real consequences of cars on the environment. Just kidding (sort of)—this isn’t about penguins and polar bears. Arctic animals are cute but the human environment, which I selfishly care more about, suffers greatly from car centric design. The phenomenon “suburban sprawl” has disastrous effects on the way people live. Home, work, and amenities are separated by ever increasing distances, only traversable by car. This results in increased commute times and gas spending, and can weaken a sense of community. Furthermore, it is an environment that grants young people and those unable to drive little independence. This issue is incredibly pervasive for disabled and elderly people, who face a constant dilemma: they completely depend on others to drive them or put themselves and others at risk by driving themselves. The environment shaped by cars in America grants freedom to many but not to all.
More Thoughts on Cars
“The US is too big for trains!” That’s true, most of it is. But I don’t think anyone in their right mind is trying to get a train across the whole entire country. The densely populated northeast could do with a few more trains though. Currently, the main modes of transportation between Boston, NYC, Philly, and D.C. are driving for hours or flying for hundreds of dollars. While some trains run between these cities, they are slow, outdated, and sparse. Given that millions of people fly and drive through the northeastern megalopolis every day, public transportation upgrades would be incredibly valuable.
Electric cars! I think we can all see through the greenification of inherently pollutive and destructive industries (in this case auto and oil). Cars will always be inefficient modes of transportation. Plus, brake and tire wear release into the atmosphere 20 times the particle pollutants of tailpipe emissions. Gas is not the issue.
In true American fashion, I’ve also considered a tyrannical government scenario. I imagine cars would be pretty useful in evading a hypothetical tyrannical government which is a big plus in my opinion. A government could easily disable public transportation so I see the importance of cars in this regard.
Conclusion
Believe it or not I think cars are sick. I set aside at least 0.7% of my waking hours to reminisce about driving my grandpa’s ancient VW bug. Some part of my monkey brain really likes cars. What’s not so sick is that for the vast majority of Americans, driving is their only mode of transportation and the charm wears off quite fast. Plus it’s expensive and unhealthy, and your life could be at the mercy of some half blind 90 year old–nobody should have to accept these conditions just to get around. There’s nothing wrong with choosing to drive–everyone should have the option–but for too many it’s not a choice.