>This isn't misplaced nostalgia for the days when driving was more dangerous, but I do believe as cars get safer, situational awareness worsens and riskier beha

>This isn't misplaced nostalgia for the days when driving was more dangerous, but I do believe as cars get safer, situational awareness worsens and riskier behaviors are less likely to result in serious accidents -- so some drivers continue to take more risks. You put this into words better than I did. I'm not suggesting we abandon all the improvements we've gotten in the last 30 years, just recognize how less effort required can breed disassociation with the task at hand.