Question: Would you support the idea of the government licensing anyone aged 16 or older and in good physical health to not just own a firearm, but to carry it around loaded in his hand with the safety off just about everywhere, including in front of schools, malls and bustling city centers? Oh, and it’s also okay to brandish it about while eating, yapping on your cell phone, reading the morning newspaper, applying makeup or whatever other distraction tickles your fancy.
Your answer would be a resounding “Hell no!”, right? Well I hate to break it to you, folks, but that’s exactly what’s happening in our society today, except that automobiles have taken on the role that was occupied by guns in the above scenario.
The overwhelming majority of cars and trucks on today’s roads weigh at least 3,000 pounds, and all that mass, combined with the kind of kinetic energy even the most anemic motor vehicle is capable of unleashing, translates to a potential to cause destruction of life, limb and property on a huge scale. In plain English, cars and trucks can wreak serious havoc if handled improperly.
Unfortunately, it’s plain to see that improper handling of automobiles seems to be getting more and more common. The causes of this pandemic are numerous: People who erroneously view driving as a right rather than a privilege, the perceived need to be able to multitask, the ludicrous notion that the computerized safety systems on many modern vehicles will completely nullify the laws of physics in an emergency situation, and large doses of impatience, arrogance and selfishness are the major ones.
This wouldn’t be quite as frightening if the proper authorities (i.e. state DMVs. Law enforcement agencies, etc.) allocated sufficient time, energy and resources to punish major offenders and discourage similar behavior in others. But here’s the deal: Government agencies are not making the creation of safe drivers a priority. Oh no, sir!Instead, the government (along with lobbying groups for motorists and the insurance industry, among others) push the automakers to load their products up with increasingly complex and costly gizmos designed to help drivers avoid crashes and better protect them during one. As the old adage goes, those in power are merely trying to treat the symptoms instead of trying to cure the disease.
The “pile on the Band Aids” mentality seems to grow louder and more urgent by the day, what with all the prize money DARPA is putting up for vehicles that drive themselves. And someday, probably within our lifetimes, the “smart highway” will probably become a reality, and we can get on the freeway and have computers automatically take the wheel for us.
But is it really necessary? Wouldn’t a basic knowledge of vehicle dynamics and the laws of physics get people to realize a top-heavy SUV, no matter how many digital nannies and trick suspension systems it has, can’t corner like a Lotus Elise? Wouldn’t showing people how much fuel is wasted compared to how little time is saved by speeding make folks want to slow down? And wouldn’t coming down hard and heavy on an overwhelming majority of the scumbags who don’t seem to value the safety of themselves and those around them go a long way in discouraging such behavior?
Alas, we’ll probably never find out. The quick fixes will keep coming, and the root of the problem will continue to grow and fester. But there is still hope: If we all start using our brains when behind the wheel, we just might be able to make driving safe enough without having to surrender control to robots. And for those of us that love the feeling of freedom that comes from controlling a machine and, by extension, our own destinies, that would definitely be a future to look forward to.
Thanks for reading, and drive safely.
