Who is forced to drive a car? Many people would love to ditch their car — but they feel like they can’t. This is what the bestselling German author Katja Diehl (2022) describes in her book ‘Autokorrektur’ (Autocorrect). Numerous interviewees from all over Germany explained to her why they feel forced to opt for automobility. Here is a list of those who feel forced to drive in a German context, although this likely applies to other Western environments (Diehl, 2022): Disabled people, especially those in wheelchairs who have to rely on driving services, book services before taking the train, don’t have accessible sidewalks, etc. Some of them feel much more autonomous and dignified with a private car. People who don’t like driving, or owning a car, for instance because they are afraid of hurting somebody, prefer to work from home or dislike supporting the car as a status symbol. For some, the commute without a car would take too long or employers expect them to drive. People in the countryside, where buses tend to be infrequent, train lines are not properly developed, and car ownership is the default. Families, especially those with many children or single parents, who need to master all their scattered everyday activities like picking up the children and going to work. For parents with several children, a car is often cheaper than, e.g., the train. There are also not always school buses or car-sharing options available.
https://norden.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/208/796/677/382/259/original/ad8daab2d749805d.png