Why Aren't Cars Safer?

While they're at it why don't they just start selling tanks. Cars are often built to pretty safe standards while allowing comfort and affordability at the same time. The driver is the problem, why aren't drivers safer?

It's not convenient enough for the average commuter. Some people do install their own rollcages seats and harnesses, but it IS expensive for the average person. The reality is that modern cars really are very safe. No matter what you do though, nothing is as dangerous as an idiot driver.. no matter what precautions you take.

all that crap wont make any diff/when i started driving we didnt have that stuff/belts and bgs and crush rates etc/little old ladies wont put the belts on now /cant see them crawling through the drivers window

Because nobody would want any of that. Car manufacturers try to sell what people want, for a price they're willing to pay. Aftermarket parts manufacturers sell all that stuff you mentioned, feel free to price it out and ask the regular driver if they want to pay for it. The police constantly try to crack down on people not wearing seatbelts. There's no chance they'll wear a helmet and a 5 point harness instead.

Cars actually have been getting safer and safer through the years. The problem is the other drivers. People can make improvements to cars to make the machines themselves safer, but unfortunately you can only do so much to make driving safer by making improvements to the car. In your case, the problem was not either car, but the driver of the other one. You have to make the driver safer to really improve safety.

it is insanley expensive and car companys know that people look at the beauty of the car when wanting to buy it and, with all of these added features, the car wouldn't be very "pretty".

No matter how much the manufacturers try to make a vehicle safe, there are none that are really safe as long as there are "loose nuts" behind the wheel. Disobeying traffic laws, tailgating, speeding, texting on cell phones, and many other things are really what makes a vehicle unsafe - the idiiot drivers. You, yourself, said your mother was rear ended and the other driver just took off. It is people like that who are making the roadways unsafe, not the vehicles.

How old are you? This sounds really stupid and I don't know why anyone would want to drive like the way you describe. There is no need for all that stuff and people don't want that. If you want a really safe car then get one but it doesn't mean everyone has to drive one. Also most cars are pretty safe so I don't know what you are talking about. That's why when you drive you are supposed to look out for everyone and everything so you can avoid the situation as much as possible even though it is not always possible that is the risk we take as drivers. Driving is a privilege and if you don't want to drive then ride the bus but for all the other drivers like myself I love my 2 door sports coupe and I'm a very safe driver and I'm aware of my surroundings while driving. Most people on the road are safe and when you see someone driving unsafe then change lanes and get away from them. No one wants cars how you described and if you are so traumatized then don't drive.

New cars are (generally) safer than old cars. If they made new cars more expensive, then fewer drivers would buy them, and more drivers would keep old cars, so it would be less safe. Also, the 5 point harnesses cannot be worn while wearing a skirt or a long coat.