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The period of early diffusion of the car seems to have been linked with a European culture of violence and aggression that is underestimated in automobile-related research. Road battles and races, aggressive driving, and class arrogance on the road were not aberrations from a peaceful norm, but essential to cultural positioning of automobiles. A pattern of metaphors for driving related aggression evolved. Thus, automobilism had a place in the cultural as well as in the practical preparation for WWI. Further research into this 'dark side' of car culture is proposed.
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Kurt Möser (2003) studied this question.
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