A century ago, Americans viewed automobiles as deadly menaces rather than essential tools. In 1921 alone, cars killed 286 children in Pittsburgh, 130 in Baltimore, and 97 in Washington D.C. Cities held solemn marches for victims, while rural communities literally fought back—throwing stones at vehicles, shooting at drivers, and digging ditches across roads to trap the “horseless carriages” that were killing their livestock and neighbors.

This historical resistance has been largely erased from collective memory, replaced by what researchers call “motonormativity”—a cognitive bias that makes us overlook cars’ massive costs. Environmental psychologist Ian Walker discovered this phenomenon when 75% of people opposed smoking in populated areas due to harmful fumes, but only 17% opposed driving in those same areas despite similar air pollution risks. The statistics are sobering: more Americans have died in car crashes than all U.S. wars combined, while global SUVs alone would rank as the world’s fifth-largest carbon emitter if they were a country.

The automotive industry deliberately shaped this cultural shift through decades of marketing campaigns. They popularized “jaywalking” to blame pedestrians for traffic deaths and promoted cars as symbols of freedom through advertising. Today’s reality differs sharply from these fantasies—the average American spends over $750,000 on vehicles during their lifetime while enduring traffic congestion and pollution.

However, recent trends suggest growing openness to change. COVID-19’s outdoor dining boom showed alternative uses for street space, while e-bikes offer new transportation options. New York City’s congestion pricing has already reduced traffic and improved air quality, suggesting Americans may finally be ready to reconsider our car-centric culture.