Are our Slants "Unsafe"?

nuttyprof said

The most dangerous thing about our old cars is the nut behind the wheel.

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I agree. While new cars have much improved safety features, I suspect the biggest reason for greatly decreased death rates is public understanding. I remember bouncing around on the back seat as a kid in the 60's, and once flew into the windshield when my dad rear-ended a car. I recall being ridiculed by a girl for buckling up in 1978 (no 2nd date). I remember idiots (invariably men) who had to pass every car in front of them, despite oncoming traffic, on the 2 lane highways of the time. Enough deaths in the family and people learn.

I just talked to my wife in Indonesia where the death rate per passenger mile is 50x the U.S. Her family was driving to the mountains. I asked if my 9-yr old daughter was wearing a seat-belt. No, and neither was she. She said one doesn't need to wear a seat-belt there. I ask her to please buckle up our daughter. I am terrified every time I travel the roads there. The attitude is just like in the U.S. of the 1950's.