The automobile has had an extraordinary impact on the world. Whether you are a motorist or a passenger, the automobile has changed how we move. It is the primary mode of transportation.
In the United States, the first garage was opened in Boston in 1899. That same year, Akron police replaced a horse-drawn paddy wagon with a motorized version.
By the time the Great Depression hit, cars were a necessity. People were not willing to give them up. They were forced to make repairs. With every passing year, autos became faster.
As the years went by, auto accidents began to mount. Many people died from them. Some blamed the horses, others blamed the motorists.
At first, the car was considered clumsy. But, as the years passed, more and more drivers started to drive. And, eventually, people realized that the car was much more than a convenience.
In 1929, over 4.5 million cars were sold in the United States. Of these, half were Fords. This number was a significant increase from 1914.
Before the war, about 36,000 Americans were killed by automobiles. These figures were largely due to automobiles being used as vehicles of crime and murder.
The social revolution wrought by the automobile was almost as important as the revolution in the motorized industry. Despite the popularity of the automobile, the social changes made in America in the early 20th century were less visible than the progress of the motorized industry.
