I've heard the argumentation that in developing countries the rate of death per kilometer driven or some such is currently the same as it was earlier in develop

I've heard the argumentation that in developing countries the rate of death per kilometer driven or some such is currently the same as it was earlier in developed countries, despite better safety features in newer cars in developing countries. And that it's in part a cultural issue... I don't necessarily agree that it's everything but it's still interesting.