A recent article in The Sun (No Accident) by Kelly Daniels, concludes that contrary to common belief, it is not just drunk drivers that are responsible for the approximately 38,000 yearly deaths in the US; but cars themselves. I am inclined to agree. Automobiles, as well as guns, have changed human history in such a significant way that there is no turning back. Not only have these inventions greatly altered human life; they have redesigned the landscape itself and have been the cause of great suffering in nearly all species that share this beautiful planet with us.
One of my grandsons recently purchased his first car. He was quite proud of it, as any young man would be. Another granddaughter just obtained her learner’s permit. Like most kids these days, their cell phones, their clothes, and their mobility make up their priorities and the life that they know. Even if they have grown up without the strong influence of organized religion, they view the natural world often with contempt and as something foreign and separate from themselves. Soon all of my grandchildren will join the masses of drivers on the road, discarding their bicycles and skateboards for the more exciting and dangerous automobile.
I have heard talk recently about cars in the near future that will drive themselves.This new concept comes under the delusion that self-driving cars will reduce or eliminate accidents. Most likely, it will introduce a whole new bag of problems. Recall notices are not uncommon with today’s automobiles. Problems that are not detected until long after thousands of a particular model have been sold and are out on the road, must be repaired by the manufacturer. In these instances, the factory that makes the cars are responsible for the defects and resulting accidents and lawsuits. It is unrealistic to believe that self-driving cars will not have defects as well, or become the cause of accidents; which are now mostly attributed to “human error”. In reality, it is all human error.The invention of automobiles, coupled with humans whose attention is so often distracted, is a recipe for disaster.
I, personally, do not care much for cars. My attitude has always been that whether you drive a Mercedes Benz, a beat up pickup truck, or a 1960’s VW bug, they will all get you from point A to point B. If I could, I would have a Rolls Royce driven by a chauffeur, because I do not like to drive. It is far too stressful, especially when driving in a large metropolis. Cars are now a necessary evil in our modern world. All one can do is to drive carefully and to keep an eye out for other drivers to avoid accidents. It also helps to surround oneself with light prior to driving anywhere and say a prayer for protection.
