The automobile has indeed improved modern life. It is difficult to imagine modern life without the automobile, as it allows individuals to commute to work and shop in relative comfort and mobility. It has also enabled many modern families to achieve greater economic stability, as it allows parents to spend more time at home with their children. However, the automobile is also responsible for serious pollution, traffic problems, as well as many other negative aspects, such as accidents and fatalities. The automobile has been a remarkable technological advancement that, for better or for worse, continues to transform society.

The automobile has undoubtedly changed society, although perhaps not in the way some people believe. Although cars have certainly allowed individuals greater mobility, it is questionable whether they have improved quality of life or economic prosperity. In developed countries, most people’s daily lives revolve around the automobile, but the majority still must still rely on public transportation for the majority of trips. Additionally, while the automobile has helped many modern families achieve economic stability, it has also increased traffic congestion, pollution, and accidents. Traffic congestion can be particularly disruptive to urban dwellers who work in downtown areas. Traffic accidents are devastating and often lead to fatalities. Even countries with advanced driver assistance systems, such as Japan, suffer a considerable number of fatalities each year as a result of cars colliding with one another. Given this, it can be argued that automobiles have certainly added an element of risk to life, but they are not necessarily responsible for this increased risk. Modern cars are certainly safer than those in the past, but people still have the choice to drive recklessly, whether in cars or motorcycles, and they often choose to do so. Poverty may also be a contributing factor to traffic fatalities. Poorer individuals are less likely to be able to afford proper insurance, safety equipment, or seatbelts.

Given the adverse consequences of automobile use, it is understandable that many people believe that cars have negatively impacted modern life. The automobile has certainly contributed to the destruction of many natural habitats, for example, and this has led to the endangerment of many native species. Additionally, cars spew out large amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. As a result, many contemporary artists have begun portraying cars as symbols of environmental destruction. These paintings frequently feature cars submerged in oceans or burning up on city streets; they illustrate the destruction that the automobile has wrought on our planet. Some critics have suggested that these paintings are not realistic enough, as no artist would risk his or her life by painting such a scene. However, it is arguable that the paintings’ lack of realism is an indicator of the dire circumstances that our planet faces, and that realism is not what is most important about such paintings. Another major issue that the automobile has caused is environmental racism. Residents of developing countries, most notably China and India, must still rely on automobiles for basic necessities such as transportation and food. However, automobiles are not available to them, and this prevents them from participating in the global economy. This results in their economic disempowerment, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Some nations, such as China, have begun to view automobiles as an economic burden, and are actively discouraging their citizens from buying cars. Despite these efforts, a 2012 study by the Interstate Transportation Commission revealed that 1.2 billion people in the world still do not have access to a car, and this number is projected to rise to 1.7 billion by 2030.

Even in developed countries, the automobile has had an adverse effect on the environment. Americans alone consume 45 billion gallons of gasoline per year, and this has a negative effect on the environment. Energy-efficiency measures such as hybrid cars and electric cars have yet to have a significant impact on the amount of gasoline that Americans consume. Additionally, automobiles are used inefficiently; for instance, many people are still driving cars that were built in the nineteen-fifties. This wastes gasoline and contributes to environmental issues.

The automobile has also had a negative impact on public health. In 2013, 37,675 people died in traffic accidents in the US, and this number represents 1.25 percent of all deaths. Accidents related to speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving also cause numerous fatalities each year. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to such accidents. Moreover, air pollution from cars contributes to a variety of health problems, including asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease. Not surprisingly, the rates of these diseases are increasing as automobile pollution increases.

Automobiles may certainly have benefited modern society, but they cannot claim that they improved the quality of life of everyone on the planet. Their negative impacts on the environment and on public health are undeniable, and people must work together to reduce these negative effects.