De bilfrie søndage 1973-74: Den psykologiske overgang fra fritidsbilisme til samfundsbilisme

The Yom Kippur war in October 1973 resulted in an oil embargo from OPEC – for eleven weekends it was strictly forbidden to drive on Sundays in Denmark. This was basically a psychological or symbolic measure to heighten the public awareness of the fundamental dependency on oil in Denmark. The prohibition against Sunday driving was generally accepted and respected by the public. Many Danes even greeted the measure and enjoyed the silence, the clean air and the lack of perils from the automobiles. The political decision to prohibit Sunday driving was taken with the consideration that this would do much less social harm than a rationing of gasoline or other harsh measures to everyday transportation. This event marks the crucial turning point of the mediation and consumption junction from leisure to everyday automobilism.