In the Company of Cars: Driving as a Social and Cultural Practice (Human Factors in Road and Rail Transport)

"In the Company of Cars" describes driving as a social and cultural practice, showing how a cultural studies approach can contribute to a better understanding of driving behaviour and to a more appropriate approach to road-safety policy. It examines the perspectives that young people in particular have on cars. In looking at driving as a cultural practice, the author explores the broader social and cultural meanings of the car, the potential it is supposed to fulfil, and the anticipated benefits it offers to young drivers.Drawing on international research on driving and youth from social psychology, as well as recent innovative approaches to mobility in sociology and cultural studies, the book takes up the views of young people on the relationship to, and experience of, cars and driving from focus-group research conducted in Australia on a range of topics from media to car use and gender performance. The author looks at the ways in which driving has become routinised through articulations of the car that emphasise valued features of the car-driver such as gender, youthfulness, status, age, power, raciness, sexiness, ruggedness, and competitiveness.It has long been accepted that the social and cultural meanings of the car far exceed the practical need for mobility; this book marks the first attempt to contribute to road safety by examining what these significances are and how they shape cultures of driving. In The Company Of Cars Describes Driving As A Social And Cultural Practice, Showing How A Cultural Studies Approach Can Contribute To A Better Understanding Of Driving Behaviour And To Road-safety Policy. It Examines The Perspectives That Young People In Particular Have On Cars In Order To Explore The Broader Social And Cultural Meanings Of The Car, The Potential It Is Supposed To Fulfil, And The Anticipated Benefits It Offers To Young Drivers. Drawing On International Research On Driving And Youth From Social Psychology As Well As Recent Innovative Approaches To Mobility In Sociology And Cultural Studies, This Book Takes Up The Views Of Young People From Focus-group Research Conducted In Australia On A Range Of Topics From Media To Car Use And Gender Performance. The Author Looks At The Ways In Which Driving Has Become Routinised Through Articulations Of The Car That Emphasise Valued Features Of The Car-driver Such As Gender, Youthfulness, Status, Age, Power, Raciness, Sexiness, Ruggedness, And Competitiveness. This Book Takes A Global Perspective On Mobility Considering The Impact Of Cars And Road Safety Policy On Quality Of Life And The Value And Significance Of Other Modes Of Travel In A Range Of Countries. It Has Long Been Accepted That The Social And Cultural Meanings Of The Car Far Exceed The Practical Need For Mobility; This Book Marks The First Attempt To Contribute To Road Safety By Examining In Depth These Significances And The Cultures Of Driving That Are Shaped Through Them.--jacket. Sarah Redshaw. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-181) And Index.

It has long been accepted that the social and cultural meanings of the car far exceed the practical need for mobility. This book marks the first attempt to contribute to road safety, considering, in depth, these meanings and the cultures of driving that are shaped by them.

In the Company of Cars examines the perspectives that young people have on cars, and explores the broader social and cultural meanings of the car, the potential it is supposed to fulfil, and the anticipated benefits it offers to young drivers.

From focus-group research conducted in Australia, the book takes up the views of young people on a range of topics, from media to car use to gender performance. The author looks at the ways in which driving has been defined by articulations of the car that emphasize valued features of the car-driver, such as gender, youthfulness, status, age, power, raciness, sexiness, ruggedness and competitiveness. The book takes a global perspective on mobility, considering the impact of cars and road safety policy on quality of life, and the value and significance of other modes of travel, in a range of countries.

It has long been accepted that the social and cultural meanings of the car far exceed the practical need for mobility. This book marks the first attempt to contribute to road safety, considering, in depth, these meanings and the cultures of driving that are shaped by them. In the Company of Cars examines the perspectives that young people have on cars, and explores the broader social and cultural meanings of the car, the potential it is supposed to fulfil, and the anticipated benefits it offers to young drivers. From focus-group research conducted in Australia, the book takes up the views of young people on a range of topics, from media to car use to gender performance. The author looks at the ways in which driving has been defined by articulations of the car that emphasize valued features of the car-driver, such as gender, youthfulness, status, age, power, raciness, sexiness, ruggedness and competitiveness. The book takes a global perspective on mobility, considering the impact of cars and road safety policy on quality of life, and the value and significance of other modes of travel, in a range of countries. Road safety research has traditionally involved a focus on individuals in which social norms are considered but rarely discussed in detail. Outlining the existing body of research on young drivers in particular, In the Company of Cars shows the contribution that considering road safety from a social and cultural perspective could make to the reduction of death and injury on the roads. It highlights the involvement of driving cultures, as distinct from car cultures, in the social framing of cars and the ways in which they are utilised