The Wonder of Automobiles

By Ken Anderson, themayberryguru@gmail.com

July is one of the busiest months for automobile traffic as more people are on the roads enjoying summer vacations. The love of automobiles has always been an important part of our culture.

The first practical, modern automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine was built by German engineer Karl Benz in 1885. From that lowly first car, there are now 1.645 billion cars and other motorized vehicles (including trucks and buses) worldwide. As of early 2026, there are approximately 297 to 298.7 million registered personal and commercial vehicles on the road in the United States. Unfortunately, this results in staggeringly high numbers of lost lives.

Throughout the world, approximately 1.19 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. It is estimated that 60–80 million people have died in traffic accidents worldwide since the invention of the automobile. Statistics indicate that over 90 percent of all auto accidents are the direct result of human error. Distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding are three of the most common causes of accidents.

On a lighter note, as cars became more numerous over the years, laws had to be enacted to ensure traffic safety, some of which are rather strange. In Alaska, it is illegal to strap your dog to the top of your car. The law is aimed at protecting dogs from neglect and injury, with fines being the usual penalty. In California, it is illegal to jump from a car going 65 mph or higher. I have a feeling that if a person attempts this stunt, they will not have to worry about a penalty. In Montana, unless you have a chaperone, it’s illegal to have sheep in your truck.

There are also superstitions regarding cars. One is that it is good luck to find bird droppings on your car. Some owners believe you should intentionally cause a tiny, hidden scratch or dent on a new car to avoid tempting fate and having a major accident later. Many drivers and passengers hold their breath when passing a cemetery. The myth behind this is to prevent the spirits of the recently deceased from entering your body.

With all this said, I hope you have a safe and fun summer driving whatever type of vehicle you own. But keep in mind that you will not be alone. American vehicles travel a combined total of roughly 3.2 trillion miles each year.