People have been using boxes on wheels to transport themselves and things for millennia. The issue is how fast #MotorVehicles can go, which in turn determines how far it is practical to #travel in one.
There will always be a need for weather protection and cargo capacity, but #society would look very different if motor vehicles were restricted to 20 mph, like Class II #ebikes.
Children aged 0-4 years are less likely to be injured in an motor vehicle crash if they are restrained in a rear-as opposed to forward-facing car seat.