Evening star., 1934-01-28
AUTOS INFLUENCE
ON USERS MARKED
Yale Expert on Traffic Sees
Car Making Great Char.
acter Change.
BY ROBBINS B. STOECKEL,
Research Associate in Highway Transports
ton, Yale University.

Research Associate in Highway Transporta-
ton, Yale University.
The automobile has q tremendous
influence on character and character
building. 1t is not too much to say that
it is changing and making over man
kind, or at least that great part Of the
population engaged in driving automo-
biles as a part Of the daily routine of
living Because of the widespread use
of this vehicle, which serves mans
wishes and desires better than any We
hicle Of the past, there has been a
noticeable increase in mental alertneSS.
physical ability health, judgment,
courtesy and good habits.
Operation Of an automobile in traffic
forces expression of character 1t is a
vehicle to carry out the dictates of its
master, and at the same time it forces
its master, if he wishes to avoid trou-
BILE. to act courteously and with thor
ough understanding of the limitations.
needs and probable conduct of others.
Because this is so, the driving of car
brings into the character of its opera
tor consideration and understanding,
and compels him to go much further
In their expression, because they are
the case II he had any other choice.
It is fair to assume that having tried
and found that courtesy and care In
motor vehicle operation pay. an opera
tor will persist in their exercise, not
only in such operation, but in many Of
the other activities of life.
Improves Alertness.
Motor vehicle operation calls for
constant exercise of the faculties for
immediate decision. When one Is
operating an automobile he cannot
delay thought about what he is going
to do next. The course of his opera
ton must be determined forthwith, in
accordance with rules, and occasionally
by departure from them, in order to
meet emergencies. The qualities of
alertness and quick and correct de-
cision must become natural part OF
operating performance. Again, it is
fair to conclude that these qualities,
having been developed by motor-vehicle
operation, will extend into other things
as we'll.
A man who Is good at making de-
cisions in connection with automobile
driving will be just as good at making
quick decisions in business. His oper-
alton Is constantly a factor in every
thing in which he engages, because
through it and through the fact that
in its performance he is engaged
actually in public life, perhaps as his
only activity in which many other
persons participate. he Is brought to
consider and learn what the conduct
Of other people will be toward him.
Through accommodation to their con-
Ia ~ -
line with the proper rules and regula-
tions which govern them and he creates
correct habits which are not only use
full. but which become q part Of him.
self for the general good Of every one.
Purposes Vary Widely.
The automobile as q traffic vehicle
has become so widely used for so many
different purposes associated with the
pleasure and work of its owner and
operator that standardization Of con-
duct has become accomplished through
its use. Within limits and outside the
bounds Of exaggeration all Of this
driving conduct Is Of q high type, the
performance Of which must in its very
accomplishment bring to the person
who exercises 1t permanent qualifica-
tions to apply to other activities.
Advanced thought on the subject OF
trafnc education goes into an attempt
to limit exaggeration tn conduct to
formulate and build up q standardiza-
tion which is practical and then
through teaching and through enforce
ment to try to attain common per-
formance In which the qualities Of
character, as well as those of rules,
environment. machine performance
and all other elements, will be included.
The automobile has brought man
great deal more than Just transporta-
ton from placs 70 place for himself
and 4 soods.