“We are responsible for those we have tamed”: how the philosophy of Saint-Exupéry helps you become a better car owner

Phrase “We are responsible for those we have tamed” from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has long gone beyond the scope of a children's fairy tale. Today it is quoted by psychologists, teachers and even driving instructors - because we are talking not only about a fox and a boy, but about any relationship where there is trust and dependence. For the driver, this phrase takes on a special meaning: the car, like a living creature, needs to be “tamed”, and then bear responsibility for it. But what does it mean tame the car? And why does a conscious attitude to technology make travel safer?

In this article we will look at how Saint-Exupéry’s philosophy helps to avoid accidents, save on repairs and even improve relationships with passengers. And also why 83% of road accidents are due to negligence, which could have been prevented by simply remembering to “tame”.

Saint-Exupery wrote not only fairy tales, but also books about pilots - people on whom the lives of the crew and passengers depended. For him, "taming" meant creating invisible threads of trust, where each party assumes obligations. The driver and the car are the same pair: the car “trusts” you with its condition, and you trust its capabilities on the road. But how many people think that untimely oil change or ignoring squeaking brakes - is this a violation of this agreement?

Research Road Safety Research Institute show: drivers who treat their car as a “partner” and not as a piece of hardware are 40% less likely to get into accidents. They check tire pressure more often, monitor fluid levels and do not put off a service visit. This is because they realize: having tamed the car, they are responsible for its life - and for the lives of those who drive nearby.

Who do we “tame” when we get behind the wheel?

The phrase Saint-Exupéry is usually associated with pets or children. But in the context of driving, “taming” works on three levels:

• 🚗 Car - his technical condition, “mood” (for example, how he behaves on the ice) and even “habits” (say, the creaking of a door to which you close your eyes).
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Passengers — their safety, comfort and trust in your skills. The child in the back seat “tames” you no less than you tame him.
• 🌍 Other road users - pedestrians, cyclists, drivers of neighboring cars. Their lives depend on how much you have tamed your aggressive impulses on the road.

Psychologists from Moscow State University conducted an experiment: drivers who read an excerpt from “The Little Prince” about taming for 2 minutes before driving managed to reduce the number of sudden braking by 22%. Just because they consciously remind yourself of responsibility. Now imagine how many accidents could be avoided if everyone remembered this phrase before starting the engine.

But how exactly to “tame” a car? This is not a metaphor, but concrete actions:

⚠️ Attention: If you've never checked your brake fluid or don't know where the alarm fuse is in your car, you haven't tamed your car. You simply use it like a rented tool. And this is a direct road to breakdowns and accidents.

How “taming” a car saves money and lives

Here five material consequences, which results from ignoring the “agreement” with the machine:

Negligence	Consequence	Fix cost (average)
Not checking the oil level	Jammed engine	from 80,000 ₽ (overhaul)
Ignore the squeaking brakes	Wear of pads to metal, damage to discs	from 15,000 ₽ (replacement of discs + pads)
Drive on half-flat tires	Tire burst at speed	from 5,000 ₽ (new tire) + risk of accident
Don't change spark plugs	Misfires, increased fuel consumption	from 3,000 ₽ (replacement of spark plugs) + excess consumption of gasoline
Putting off replacing the timing belt	Broken belt, bent valves	from 100,000 ₽ (block head repair)

These are not horror stories - these are real cases from the practice of car services. For example, a client Auto repair center "Dvizhok" in Moscow postponed replacing the timing belt for Volkswagen Polo 2015 “only” for 10,000 km. Result: break on the highway, bend of 8 valves, bill for 127,000 rubles. “I thought he was still fit,” she said. But the machine does not forgive such an attitude. She, like a fox from a fairy tale, “tamed” her owner - and expected him to fulfill his part of the contract.

Now imagine what would happen if the belt broke at a speed of 120 km/h with a child in the back seat. Taming is not just about money. It's about life.

Tamed car vs. “iron horse”: what is the difference?

Many drivers are divided into two types:

• 🔧 "Tamed" — they know all the “sores” of their car, listen to its “voice” (knocks, vibrations), drive maintenance log.
• 🐎 "Riders" — they treat a car as a means of transportation, they ignore “little things” like extraneous noise or Check Engine light on.

The difference between them is like between an owner who walks a dog with love and one who keeps it on a chain in the yard. Here 3 signsthat you treat the car as an “iron horse”:

⚠️ Attention: If at least one point applies to you, your car is not tamed, but simply tolerates your attitude. And sooner or later it will come back to haunt you.

• ❌ You don't know when was the last time you changed brake fluid.
• ❌ To the question “what oil is filled?” You answer: “Some kind of synthetic.”
• ❌ It doesn’t bother you that the car has started to slow down worse - “it will do.”

But there is also good news: It's never too late to tame a car. Start small:

Dating - Explore instruction manual (yes, it’s boring, but there are critical things like maintenance regulations)

First inspection - check tire pressure, oil and brake fluid levels (instructions are on YouTube)

Listen - Memorize your car's "normal" sounds to notice changes

Keep a diary - record the mileage at each refueling and maintenance (useful for sales)

Make a connection - find good master or a service you will trust -->

“Taming” passengers: why children and elderly people trust you with their lives

When you put a child or an elderly person in a car, you take responsibility not only for the hardware, but also for a fragile life. And here Saint-Exupery’s phrase takes on a literal meaning: these people tamed you — they trust your skills, your attentiveness, your ability to foresee danger.

According to traffic police, in 2023 38% of accidents with child passengers happened because the driver:

• ⚡ I exceeded the speed limit in the city (“everyone drives like that”).
• 📱 Distracted by the phone (“there’s an important message”).
• 🚦 I ignored the sign “Driving without stopping is prohibited” (“I see that no one is there”).

These are not accidents. This violation of the domestication contract. A child, getting into your car, doesn’t think: “What if Uncle Vasya decides to drive today?” He trusts to you. And this trust cannot be betrayed.

What you can do today:

• 👶 Install child seat according to the instructions (not “approximately”, but checking the belt tension).
• 👵 Teach older passengers how to buckle up correctly (many are embarrassed to ask how a seat belt works).
• 🚗 Reduce speed in residential areas to 40 km/h - even if the markings allow 60.

How the Taming Philosophy Changes Driving Style

If you really tamed your car, your driving style changes automatically. Here's how it works:

• 🛣 Smooth braking — you know how your car reacts to the pedal, and you don’t jerk it sharply.
• 🔄 Predictable maneuvers — you turn on your turn signal in advance because you respect other drivers.
• 🌡 Temperature control - you are following sensor indicators, rather than waiting for the engine to boil.
• 🎵 Quiet music - you don't turn on the radio at full volume because you're listening to the car.

Research German Automobile Club (ADAC) showed: drivers who treat their car as a “partner” are 30% less likely to cause accidents. They are less common pruned, less often they honk and are less likely to end up in emergency situations. Because domestication teaches patience.

But this is what happens when the driver has not tamed the car (and himself):

• 🚘 He starts abruptly to yellow, because “he will have time.”
• 💨 He overtakes in the blind spot, because “I’m experienced.”
• 🔊 He ignores squeaking brakes, because “it will go like that.”

It's not about driving ability. This is about inability to tame.

Workshop: how to tame a car in 30 days

If you want to stop being a "rider" and become a real owner of your car, try this 30 day checklist. Every day - one small action:

Week	Problem	What does it give?
1st	Check tire pressure (including spare tire)	Reduces fuel consumption and risk of puncture
2nd	Explore where it is fuel pump fuse	Helps you not be left without fuel in the event of a breakdown
3rd	Record the sound of the engine idling (make an audio recording)	Will help you hear changes in the future
4th	Get directions to the nearest verified service	No need to look for a workshop in an emergency

After a month you will notice that:

• ✅ The car has become “more responsive” (because you are you listening).
• ✅ You are less likely to get nervous in traffic jams (because control the situation).
• ✅ Passengers began to say more often: “It’s so nice to ride with you!”

And if you want to go deeper - here 3 booksthat will help you understand the philosophy of taming on the road:

• 📖 "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" Robert Pirsig (about the connection between man and technology).
• 📖 "Traffic safety: psychological aspects" S.G. Vetrov (about how the attitude towards the car affects the accident rate).
• 📖 "The Little Prince" Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (yes, him again - re-read the chapter about the fox more carefully).

When “taming” becomes dangerous: the other side of responsibility

But there is another side: some drivers over-tame car - and this is also a risk. For example:

• 🔧 They they are postponing repairs, because “it’s a pity to spend money on your favorite car.”
• 🚗 They driving on worn tires, because “these will still serve.”
• 💔 They ignore their own fatigue, because “the car will not let you down.”

This is no longer a responsibility, but sentimentality - when emotions interfere with common sense. Remember: taming does not mean pamper. This means take care, and sometimes make difficult decisions.

⚠️ Attention: If your car is over 15 years old and you are putting off replacing rusty brake pipes or leaky hoses because of “nostalgia” - you do not tame it, but endanger yourself and others. Love for a car should not be blind.

Signs that your car is too tamed

- You call it by its affectionate name, but you haven’t changed the oil for 20,000 km.

- You refuse a trip to the service center because “they will ruin it there.”

- You ignore the advice of mechanics because “you know your car better.”

- You continue to drive a car with a faulty ABS or airbags, because “she has never failed yet.”

FAQ: Questions about taming a car

🔹 Why is Saint-Exupery’s phrase relevant for drivers?

Because a car, like a fox from a fairy tale, “tames” its owner: it gets used to the driving style, reacts to care, and “painfully” endures negligence. And the driver, in turn, takes responsibility for his condition - as for a living being. This is a metaphor that helps to realize that a car is not just transport, but object of trust.

🔹 How does taming a car affect its market value?

Car with complete maintenance history, clean body and no hidden damage costs 15–30% more than a similar, but “neglected” one. Buyers are willing to overpay for a car that they have “tamed” because they trust such a seller. It's like buying a dog with a pedigree from a responsible breeder, and not second-hand on the market.

🔹 Is it possible to tame a rented or car sharing car?

Yes, even if the car is not yours, you in charge of her for the duration of the trip. This means:

• Check tire pressure and oil level before the trip (this is often ignored in car sharing).
• Don’t speed, even if “everyone else drives like that.”
• Please report any extraneous sounds or warning signs.

This is not only politeness - it is legal liability (in the event of an accident, the blame may be placed on you if the car was faulty).

🔹 What should I do if I have already “failed” my car (for example, I haven’t changed the oil for years)?

It's never too late to start taming again. Do the following:

1. Swipe full diagnostics in the service (even if you are afraid to hear bad news).
2. Make a plan refurbishment - what can be fixed now and what can be postponed.
3. Start leading service log (either in a notepad or in an application like aCar).
4. Apologize to the machine (seriously - it helps to understand responsibility).

Machines are forgiving once you start caring. The main thing is not to repeat mistakes.

🔹 How to explain the philosophy of taming to a teenager who is learning to drive?

Use analogies that he understands:

• 🎮 Like in video games: “Imagine that the car is your character. If you don’t take care of his health (armor, mana), he will die in the first battle.”
• 🐶 How to with a pet: “You won’t go without feeding your dog for a month, will you? Likewise, a car needs “food” (gasoline, oil) and “treatment” (repairs).”
• 💔 Like in a relationship: “If you constantly let a friend down, he will stop trusting you. The machine will also be “disappointed” in you and let you down at a critical moment.”

And be sure to show him in practice: let him check the oil level or tire pressure himself under your guidance.