"The Safest Place" (1935): a Film that Touts the Responsibility of the Driver Rather than the Automobile Manufacturer

This is a very interesting film.  It starts out rather hokey, illustrating dangers on the sea and in the home.  And it is true that home accidents take an enormous toll -- ladders are particularly dangerous, as you can ask my wife!



In my The Automobile and American Life, chapter 5, I discuss the notion that 1930s American manufacturers promoted concerning the idea that cars were to be designed like homes.  And that point is clearly made in this film -- the GM turret top, knee action suspension, living room interior. The car as a home was thus safer than your own home! And thus it falls to the driver in terms of safety, as the car is as safe a product as it could be, according to the industry.



What I found most interesting was the segment on self-driving, autonomous cars that needed no driver. And the argument was that this type of vehicle eliminates ALL accidents, the same point made today by advocates of autonomous vehicles who are rushing us into the future.  Will that be the case? Do we want to be driven, rather than drive? I for one enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of getting behind the wheel. In sum, I do not want to be carted around by computers guided by sensors!!