Brainwashing Our Kids into Becoming Bad Drivers

Just as violent content in our media has given rise to violent, aggressive behavior in our society, I submit that movies and car commercials are producing a similar effect on the highway.

As a reference point, I have been driving for 42 years. Therefore, I believe I have some credibility in my observations and my theory on this issue. It affects all of us that set four tires (or more) onto the roadway.

There was a time that I really looked forward to going on vacation and driving the long distance on the American interstate system. It was a sense of adventure that imparted the freedom of leaving a boring existence for a different, more exciting destination. It's now been replaced with a distaste for driving. In contrast with years ago, there seems to be an unlimited supply of moronic drivers out there.

You know the type: the ones that engage in high speed, aggressive driving, weaving in and out of the lanes. Or the bozos who insist on maintaining a distance measured in inches between your rear bumper and their front end.

When it comes to speed, I'm as guilty of the next person for going over the limit. I usually set my cruise control at 10 mph over the speed limit, depending on traffic density, weather, etc.

What I see, though, are young people who have succumbed to the slick car commercials and movies. They are unable to distinguish between fantasy and real life. Watch the car commercials carefully, and you'll note that the vehicles are screaming through city streets or residential areas, sliding sideways, passing on curves, etc. At the bottom of the screen is a disclaimer in sub-atomic font size that usually says "do not attempt this. this is a professional driver on a closed course". You'll also notice that there's rarely ever any traffic involved while the showcase vehicle does its fantasy driving.

And that leads to my theory. These types of commercials are a fairly recent phenomenon, occurring on a parallel track with general aggressiveness in the U.S. society. It seems every auto manufacturer has adopted this theme of reckless driving. Our kids have been watching these commercials thousands of times from post-toddler to teen years. I truly believe they have subconsciously accepted it as normative behavior. Hey, if it's on TV it has to be true, right?

Add to the equation the reckless driving video games. Grand Theft Auto is a prime example. These games are played for thousands of hours by gamers, who also have seen the thousands of hours of car commercials. I refuse to believe it doesn't have a negative effect when they get behind the steering wheel. The blur between fantasy and reality is getting denser.

Unfortunately they translate this idiocy into their daily driving habits. They have been conditioned, brainwashed you might say, by this exposure. I read an article recently regarding violent video games and the stimulus they provided the aggression center in our brains. Researchers wired up teen heads to record emotive responses to violence during their gaming sessions. The brain area of aggression became unusually stimulated and hyperactive.

I think it's the epitome of irresponsibility for auto companies to market their vehicles in this manner. They are guilty of a cause and effect syndrome that's altered the driving experience. If you ever see an auto commercial from the pre-1990s, it usually showcased the car cruising at normal speed down the highway. Different camera angles gave you a good idea of what the care looked like. Contrast that with today's "zoom-zoom-zoom" theme and you'll notice a stark difference.

And if you find this article amusing and ridiculous, think about a two-ton hunk of metal doing 75 mph in a collision with you or your loved ones. It may not be so cool or amusing after all.