Cars vs. Pedestrians
We often hear automobiles criticized. Safety experts say they're dangerous.
Ecologists tell us they pollute the air. Economists claim cars are responsible
for U.S. trade deficits and high energy costs. Social Scientists blame them for
the deterioration of our inner cities. And aesthetes damn them for roadside
blight. But even if all these accusations are true, the automobile is still an
improvement on its principal alternative, the pedestrian.
Pedestrians are easily damaged. Try this test: Hit a pedestrian with a car. Now
have the pedestrian hit the car back. Then roll a pedestrian and a car through
four inches of slush and road salt at 60 mph. Take a coin-operated spray gun and
hose off their undersides. Which is in better shape? Also most cars have 5 mph
bumpers. A pedestrian can't be run into a wall at even 3 mph (average walking
speed) without getting a bloddy nose. And pedestrians are notoriously expensive
to repair.
Automobiles are cleaner than pedestrians. Even diesel exhaust smells better than
dirty human. Pedestrians wiggle and squeal when you try to scrub them, and they
are hard to wax. A dented and rusty automobile is still more attractive than the
average pedestrian. Strip a car of its paint. Strip a person of its clothes.
Which looks worse in broad daylight?
Cars last 100,000 miles or so. Just try to take a pedestrian that far.
P.J. O'Rourke, Give War a Chance