The Economic and Environmental Impact of the Automobile

There is no such thing as a car. So what does thisOur dependence on the automobile is the root of
mean to you? What does this do to yourtwo particularly worrisome problems presently
lifestyle?facing our society.
Can you see the point I am trying to make? It isProblem one is that automobiles damage the
this: you could not visualize your present day wayenvironment. The fear of a future landscape
of life, if somehow, incredibly, the automobilecompletely covered with asphalt is a topic that
were suddenly subtracted from our midst. Themany environmentalists and the next generation
longer you think about the consequences of suchare extremely concerned with. Automobile
a hypothetical event, the longer becomes your listjunkyards and roadside billboards are only beautiful
of all the ways that you would be affected.by those who are making money from them.
Starting with the obvious point, most peopleBut the aesthetics of paved roads, junk yards
would quickly find that their travelling range wasand billboards isn't the primary concern. By far the
sharply limited. The number of places they couldmost immediate and serious worry posed by our
visit, or the things that they could do, would beinvolvement with the automobile is the danger of
cut in half at the very least. At the simplest level,air pollution. The petroleum based fuels used by
the scope of interesting experiences open tocar engines emit small quantities of carbon
most people would be greatly reduced withoutmonoxide, nitrous oxide, and other green house
the widespread availability of the automobile.gases. Given the tremendous number of cars
Look at the problem in another way. For a greatbeing put on the road each day in emerging
many persons, the car is the only practical meanscountries such as India and China, the problem
of getting to work. Without cars, nearly everyoneonly promises to get worse.
who now lives in suburban areas, for instance,Despite the danger that exists, considerable
would be unable to go to work. Something wouldprogress has been made towards minimizing the
have to change; either their work would come toemission of green house gases. Perhaps as
them, or they would have to move. It wouldn'timportant a change as any is that public
take much time to figure that unless the wholeawareness of the problem now exists, so that
structure of the industry were to alter, thethe pollution caused by automobiles is no longer
suburbs would virtually disappear. Or to juggleignored.
slightly with the framework of our imaginaryThe second major problem with the automobile is
discussion, it is entirely reasonable to claim thatthat it is dangerous. Even with the introduction of
the automobile is a major factor explaining whyadditional safety features over the past thirty
the suburbs are continuing to grow.years such as air bags, anti-lock brakes, and
Nor does the discussion of this particular point endtraction control a North American is killed in a car
here. People living in suburbs want expresswaysaccident every hour. More North Americans have
that can get them to and from their job in thebeen killed in automobiles than in wars. These are
middle of the city in the shortest possible time.incredible statistics if you stop and think about
People who live in metropolis areas don't alwaysthem.
think so much of this idea. They claim - or atWhat can be done about this highly unpleasant
least many of them do - that expressways carveside-effect of the car? The problem can be
up the cities and leave them ruined. Who is right?tackled in a number of ways. One approach is
That is a question that may well turn into one ofthat of improved highway design. Better lighting,
the most controversial political issues regardingbetter signs, better intersection control, less rigid
infrastructure and domestic policies in the future.light standards and guard rails, and other
Cars are built by people. Self-evident butimprovements have all contributed to a less
significant. The automobile companies collectivelypainful accident per mile figure than might
are the largest employer in the industrialized worldotherwise have been the case.
today. Quite obviously, cars and their manufactureAnother approach is to improve the design of the
are a vital component of our economy.car from the point of view of safety.
Beyond the manufacturing sector of the autoUnquestionably, great steps have been taken.
industry are the people who design, advertise andFifteen years ago, air bags were an oddity; now,
sell automobiles, there is almost an endlesseven passenger side air bag and side door air
succession of men and women who earn theirbags are becoming common.
livelihood in an occupation that is connected inDespite these measures, "consumer protection"
some way with that one central object, the car.groups have been outspoken in their criticism of
The miner who extracts iron ore from thethe manufacturers, whom they accuse of
ground, the smelter-worker who converts thedragging their heels, being more concerned with
iron to steel, the metallurgist who decides thedesigning glamour into their cars versus designing
exact composition of the steel according to whatthem safely, with the intention of attracting a
function it must perform - these persons operateyounger consumer base. Given the fact that they
at the beginning of the process. The chemist whoare obliged to pay satisfactory dividends to
synthesizes artificial rubber for the tires, orshareholders, the manufacturers not surprisingly
invents a new plastic for the tail light, is equallyare opposed to any change that threatens to
involved in the creation of the automobile.decrease their profits.
How about the engineer who designs theHowever, by and large, the car companies have
highways and bridges we drive on? How aboutbeen agreeable to accept government imposed
the truckers carrying gravel to the constructionsafety standards. All car manufacturers are on
site, or the pavers who finish the asphalt surface?the same playing field, so none will suffer a
Don't forget the geologist who searches for crudecompetitive disadvantage. Despite this acceptance,
oil, or the well driller who brings it to the surface,however, there has still been some resistance in
or the engineer who separates the crude oil intorecent years by the manufacturers, on the
gasoline, oil, grease, and related products.grounds that some government standards are
Driving instructors depend on the car for theirtoo tough to be met in the time allowed.
living. So do mechanics, rust-prevention specialists,Nevertheless, innumerable objective studies have
chauffeurs, race car drivers, taxi drivers, truckall pointed to the same conclusion - that the
drivers, and countless dozens of other drivers.greatest single cause of accidents is, in fact, the
Tax collectors, traffic policemen, lawyers, anddriver. The reasons for this vary with the
judges all have the car to thank for some portioncircumstances - in one case, the problem may be
of their income. Accessory manufacturerslack of driving skill; in another, a momentary lapse
produce anything from fancy hubcaps to state ofof attention. Or poor vision. Or failure to
the art stereo systems, GPS systems, etc. Finally,compensate for bad conditions. Or intoxication. Or
at the end of the cycle, there is the autoover confidence. Or a combination of several of
wrecker. The next person on the scene is the carthese, or a different reason altogether. But these
salesman and the process starts over.problems we ourselves can correct - and that is
A large percentage of Americans either workthe whole point of this article. Anyone can learn to
directly for an auto manufacturer or make theirdrive. But expert driving - and really, safe driving
bread due to the automobile industry. If theis exactly the same thing - it is a skill that takes
automobile were to suddenly disappear, thetime to acquire, and has as its benefits the
economic consequences would be utterlypleasure and satisfaction that come from doing
impossible to predict.any task properly.