There’s a pervasive idea that small cars are unsafe because of the people who drive larger cars.

Unfortunately that does indeed seem to be supported by the data. So we have this arms race of everyone wanting the larger cars for their own safety at the cost of everyone else’s, especially non-drivers.

There’s no talking people out of it because it does have a safety benefit. Even if someone hates giant cars, they overwhelmingly feel they have to get one because everyone else is. It’s another way capitalism pits individuals against each other to the detriment of everyone involved. The best way to address it would be to ban oversized cars (or cars in general) so the safety threat is eliminated.