Motonormativity

Motonormativity (also motornormativity, windshield bias, car blindness, or, pejoratively, car brain) is an unconscious cognitive bias in which the social norms of private motor car ownership and use, and their societal effects and externalities, are assumed to be natural, universal, inevitable, neutral, and non-negotiable. It is a type of normativity based on the presupposed role of cars in society.

Motonormativity is a systemic bias throughout car-centric societies. It is not limited to motorists; people who do not drive also exhibit the bias. It disproportionately affects those who cannot drive, such as due to age or disability.

The concept of motonormativity describes how car dependency is created and reinforced, and how the health hazards of cars are downplayed and obscured. It also provides a framework to describe social privilege conferred onto motorists and double standards around car use.