Cars In The 1930s Essay

What is one of the most used items in the United States, or even the world? What do you use most often to get around from one place to another? What is one of the biggest industries in the world? Cars have been around for over a century and are used by families everyday. These machines have changed throughout the decades and one can see the modifications looking back. In the 1930s, automobiles continued to improve, while changing the face of transportation.

During the 1930s, the government efforts to create new safety precautions were an improvement from before. For example, when the government saw that there were many irresponsible drivers, the government legislated the “1930 Road Traffic Act [...] [which]

In this decade, automobiles were changed to help protect people. The Traffic Act is important because it introduces the offenses of careless driving and other issues, which will make drivers more aware and careful on the road. In addition, when the government saw many people were dying due to automobile accidents, the government introduced a law “in 1935 [...] designated pedestrian road crossings, with a bright orange globe on a pole on either side of the road” (Chapman 110). Crosswalks were a very important part to improving the safety of cars because drivers will see crosswalks ahead; as well as, become more aware if there are pedestrians crossing the road because of the bright poles. Today, one can still see that these were a significant part of improving safety because crosswalks are still in

For example, a new condition was set backs on capital and companies had to acclimate: “GM [General Motors] succeeded by cutting costs, using common parts across its models, and boosting production of its less expensive Chevrolet brand” (Chapman 133). This is important because if GM did not use common parts it would not profit or be able to raise costs. Companies had to make changes because General Motors produced a less expensive brand that would make more money and reduce competition, because people could not afford anything more. In addition, Chrysler had to adjust the ways of their company to survive the depression: “Chrysler’s success during the Depression [which…] came mostly from Plymouth, its low-cost brand [due to the fact that] Plymouths were one of the cheapest - most popular - cars in the U.S. [in] 1939” (Chapman 124 and 133). This shows how Chrysler dealt with the severe conditions, similar to General Motors, because both companies used lower-priced cars to increase profit. These companies were just a few that found the way to keep their businesses going through tough conditions and were able to compete during the crisis. Furthermore, “during the 1930s British automotive production continued to increase steadily [...] so the smaller companies were not forced to compete for a