Cause and Effect of Cars

Marcia Cedeno

Mrs. Kelley

Cars: Cause and Effect

The use of cars has been a major factor in modern life. Although most people would consider cars to be indispensable, there are many effects that cars cause on the environment and quality of life.

The environmental impact upon the environment is strong. Using a car is one of the most polluting activities an individual can do.(EPA) In turn, the consequences of the resulting pollution include such problems as smog, respiratory problems, acid rain, and ozone depletion. However, improving on the efficiency of cars can help counteract this problem by reducing the emissions they produce. (Albrecht ) Indeed, the effect of switching from high fuel consumption vehicles to "greener" alternatives can have a significant effect on these problems.

Interestingly, environmental effects are not the only consequences of using cars, for they also affect human safety and health -- from accidents, obesity, and violence due to road rage, to the overall quality of human life as a whole -- including traffic, lack of exercise, and an increase in urban sprawl.(Stop) In addition, physical space is effected as well (a bicycle takes up four times less room, a bus thirty times less),( Energie-Cites) as well as housing patterns -- for drivers have an increased ability to live farther away from urban centers due to "the commute."(Environmental Defense)