Joseph Nuhfer Professor Bret Zawilski RC 2001-410 9 November 2015 Life in the Fast Lane: The Pros and Cons of a Speedy Driver Society Travel by automobile used to be, for many people, an activity of leisure and youthfial enjoyment. Before gas prices were high, before police officers cracked down harshly on speeding drivers, and before car rides became dominated by texting on cell phones, car rides used to be a looked-forward-to pastime for many American families. “Cruising” even used to be a particularly common social activity during the late 1950s-early 1960s, in which drivers would drive incredibly slowly, “with the top down”, and with no particular destination in mind. In this age, efficiency was not that main goal in mind during travel; if anything, the lack of efficiency and need for it was a redeemable quality of the experience itself. Driving was a time to have no care in the world about where you were going, since you truly had no place to be. In the 2000s, however, the cultural changes towards the purpose of driving began to take obvious shape. Some cities, such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had actually began to start considering cruising a traffic offense. No longer was driving a time for leisure and taking your time; frankly, anyone ‘who was taking their time was a nuisance because they were in the way of people who had places to be. This is the way that the attitude of road travel remains today. ‘The ultimate demise of American cruising presents a truly interesting societal change that has come about in the last few decades. It has become evident that people are no longer passive about the time it takes to get to where they are going; travel has become a task built upon. efficiency. One of the greatest factors contributing to this attitude is the advent of road-mapping ‘websites and software, such as the current mobile software giant Google Maps, as well as past greats like Mapquest and GPS-units such as Garmin’s products. ‘These software, especially the newest, most updated versions, are capable of calculating route ETAs (estimated time of arrival)down to the minute; a user is able to calculate their route (and thus plan their day) with near- maximum efficiency, coupled with the additional benefit of being able to avoid traffic built-in as ‘well. Many argue that this amount of efficiency can only benefit society; faster is better, after all, especially conceming industries such as the postal services and road transportation companies (trucking). However, while this is certainly true, the dependence upon this effici causes its own significant problems. Its effect on the casual traveler is certainly evident in today’s society. In the United States alone, 66% of traffic fatalities are known to be caused by aggressive driving, “Road rage” has even become an often coined term in society, originating {from a group of freeway shootings that happened in Los Angeles, California in 1987-1988. A culture that urges its drivers to be in such a hurry, gains downfalls such as these. Such an attitude pertaining to road travel fuels the human tendency towards aggression. ‘Though some studies have concluded that aggression is not innate, itis certainly stil widespread, and an urge to be efficient and in a hurry on ‘the roads only adds fuel to the fire. It has become a societal expectation to drive as fast as is possible and legal (though many drivers push it and some blatantly ignore the traffic laws). On major highways in the United States, this expectation has become very evident is the necessity of the “fast lane”, In fact, most states actually restrict the use of the left lane (which is the one most often considered the “fast lane”) by slow-moving vehicles that are also not passing any others. State laws like this actually reflect the societal expectation to “go fast.” ni ' Google Maps not only offers this sort of navigation for drivers, but has support for those to J Ye Fag thot whom are biking, walking, or even seeking transit. The software serves not only tomap out ccenlnn, “Pee? Limits den't cesl Aled trovd) Hime roads, but even to map out bike/walking paths, as well as bus routes (Appalachian States “AppalCart route is actually stored in Google Maps, and instructions ean be given for when tocatch the bus through the software). It is all about getting wherever you are going the fastest you can. It seems as if software like this are like a hand on our back, pushing us quicker along our way, and making sure we do not lose any time, Many people, when traveling to cities they have never been, or even locations overseas, will use Google Maps to help them find their way to desired businesses and landmarks. This certainly seems to be a true positive for those who are already nervous about being in places foreign to them. However, as The Telegraph writer Lizzie Porter states in her article on Google, this sort of service can also serve to take the “spontaneity. out of travel.” When you always have a place to be, and you are going there as fast as possible, there is no longer any true randomness to your travels; no more stumbling upon hidden treasures when your path becomes so linear. Mapping software are certainly not a negative to society. Accurate ETAs and the ability to route around traffic have saved many people from being late from their jobs, and have gotten people home to their families much faster. Long-distance traveling has become especially easier. No longer do people have to rely on physical maps that are often hard to read and could easily cause drivers to be in accidents. With the press of a button, you can be guided on the quickest and easiest route to your destination. The true solution that mapping software must pose, is that it must begin emphasizing the merits of spontaneous travel. The last thing that a society like ours that is always in a hurry needs is applications like Google Maps hurrying us along even further. Google Maps should offer scenic options; features like a free drive feature where one could drive freely, only being warned about possible dangerous routes, would certainly be official, ‘The solution seems to be encouraging society to be less focused on “fast”, and more focused on substance.