title: "Taking the problem to the people": traffic safety from public relations to political theory, 1937-1954.
abstract: The slogan "taking the problem to the people" nicely summarizes U.S. traffic safety campaigns of the 1950s. It refers to the goal of awareness and self-discipline for drivers through education and law enforcement. A detailed analysis of the campaigns, however, shows a subtler objective of the motor interests that promoted it. They wanted to overcome political indifference through a civic mobilization of drivers as citizens, persuading drivers to lobby for traffic control. The analysis of their efforts leads us to question the role-or lack of role-of politicians in scientific and technological controversies.
authors.forename: Stève
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardin
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000266:history; D008119:Lobbying; D011057:Politics; D011641:Public Relations; D012449:Safety / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States