exlt81: A safe car is one that gets crumpled after an accident, not one that mows down a phone pole. Thats why Indy cars explode into a million pieces on impact, to absorb the energy. Keep in mind that when the big heavy cars back in the day ran into each other, there usually were no winners!

Yes, Dog, the government made the Germans and everyone else comply with our safety standards for cars they sell here. I didn't say if it was good or bad, just that it wasn't the car makers who put the safety innovations into their products. I didn't make any accusations either, just said that cars "back in the day" were safe. Milage, some were bad, others good but they were safe. Oh, and Nader isn't hero, he was in it for the bucks just like everyone else. There, happy now or do you need another hit on that doobie for that?

So, exlt81, you're saying that now, the new GM (Government Motors) mandating smaller, lighter cars is a good thing or a bad thing? You reminisce about the good old days when a car could tear a hole through a wall, and then champion all the government mandates that have come since? Were these for nothing because the good old days cars were better? Then why do you hope for MORE government control over our lives? And, did the government mandate Germany to make better/safer Mercedes, Sweden better/safer Volvo's Japan better/safer/more reliable cars? Didn’t the US car companies need to improve or go out of business? Free Market rules. And, I did give recognition to Ralph Nader. And what car exactly got better gas mileage than today’s cars? A Nash? A Crosley? I suspect a full sized SUV gets better gas mileage today than a Vega or Pinto or Galaxy 500.. I’ve walked on fresh concrete up “the cut in the hill” before any car ever drove on it. You’re an idiot and proven once again by making wild unfounded accusations, ignoring or making up facts and relying on propaganda.

I agree the recession has allot to do with people driving less. I also believe people are more careful about there personal safety and the safety of there passengers. Than they were even 30 years ago. People now days don't have the money to spend to go anywhere’s. Once we are out of the recession, watch and see if we don't go back to having more cars on the road and people driving more. This means more accidents or deaths on the highways.

Well, Go Dog Go, can you say full frame, can you say heavier, stronger, more steel, You ever drive a car from the 40's or 50's? You could hit a pole, break it off and drive away. Carbs and leaded gas have nothing to do with safety, drum breaks work fine and most light bulbs are still incandescent. Power Steering came along in the 30's. Auto transmissions in the 40's. Safety glass has been required since the 40's too. Where are you from Poland? We had cars getting good milage a long time ago. Are you even old enough to know what you are talking about or are you just spouting off more internetisms? Safety items on cars also ARE NOT free market. The government MADE them put in seat belts, mandated air bags, etc. It had nothing to do with the car makers. Oh, you probably don't know this but the good old "Interstate System of Defense and Transportation Highways" (it's real name)was started in the 50's too. You're playing out of your league kid, go suck some more internet pablum...

people can't afford to drive. Gas costs to much. Therefore there are less people driving. when there less people driving there are less accidents. It is a really good example of cause and effect

exlt81, do you really think 50-year old cars are safer than now? Really? I guess you don't remember metal dashboards, no seat belts, bias-ply tires, hydraulic drum brakes, crappy suspension, no-power steering, no safety glass, incandescent light bulbs, no emission controls, leaded gasoline, carburetors and quite possibly the worst gas mileage conceivable. Need I go on? How about the interstate system and innovations in road design and construction? And somehow cars got even worse in the 60's-80"s? Really? You just want to blame the economy, don't you? You can't think past the recent 18-months. Cars are safer because of innovation, improvements, competition between manufacturers, and (gasp) other FREE MARKET conditions. And many thanks to Ralph Nader too. You've proven yourself each time I read your comment to be severely lacking in thoughtfulness and you are continually dwelling in negative and repressive opinions. We live in great times, times of great advancement and possibilities. 50-years ago a person hardly dreamed of driving across country and now we can see the beauty of this nation coast to coast with nary a worry.

Nevermind. I think Guilfordking has the answer.

Yayyyy whoohoooo! We can DRIVE our cars and be safer than IF we eat!

Here's a theory for you; In addition to safer cars, increased seat belt usage and the economy, I think that it also has to do with the fact that we baby boomers are getting older and therefore more "mellow". I was a terror behind the wheel when I was a kid and really didn't slow down until my mid 40's. Used to be, I had to look down at my speedometer to make sure I wasn't speeding, now I have to look down to make sure that I'm at least doing the speed limit. Just a thought.