A 1950's Drive around Phoenix, Arizona - with 5 Year Olds

It's difficult to watch this video without being distracted by the narrator, whose unique voice will have you hearing quotes from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" in your head. Yes, it's Jimmy Stewart! (or, James Stewart) His voice alone brings up instant sentimental feelings.

This early driving program in Phoenix, AZ encouraged kids to start driver's ed very early, even in kindergarten, to get the concept of safe driving in their heads from a very young age. I think it does give kids the understanding that driving is something to be respected, and not to be taken lightly.

I remember the importance of "stop" and "go" as a kid, and that seemed like a fun concept to us as kids. There was even a game we used to play called "Red Light, Green Light" in which one kid is to instruct all the others to run toward him (when he says "Green Light!") or stop (when he says "Red Light!"). I can't recall exactly how the game goes, but I can just hear the way kids would shout those words out with such excitement, and I remember how much we loved to stop and go.

Although this video takes place in the 50's, my older brother got to go to a little driving town like that in Ohio in the 70's and drive past little buildings in a pedal car. The purpose was to teach kids about safety at an early age. My brother is indeed a very safe driver, so it must have paid off. I never got to go to that little driving town, and I used to look at those pictures and dream of the fun my brother must have had there pedaling past the little church and stopping at a stop sign.

The pedal cars in this video move along so smoothly, don't they? They almost seem like the battery cars for kids of today. But, those 50's pedal cars... they sure were beautiful.

Thank you to AutomobileHistoryUSA for posting this video on youtube.