Peter Frazer from Safer Australian Roads and Highways is both harsh and correct when he attributes the main cause of car accidents to at least one of the drivers in a crash (“On a road to blood and grief in NSW”, DT, 13/5). The standards of car construction with safety parameters are now excellent. Roads today are straighter, multi-laned and illuminated. Roadside trees and electricity poles being cleared would give cars less to crash into but would be impractical. One might suggest that the reported car accident rate should take into account our increasing population rather than be an absolute figure. Frazer is surely correct if he asserts that drivers are more fearless than ever behind the wheel and therefore more reckless. Hyped up with adrenaline after playing aggressive games on the internet, some regale having overcome fear. Even without alcohol or drugs, a group of young men in a car is a toxic combination of daring, adventurism, masculinity and peer pressure. As our social fabric is challenged by selfishness, impatience and lawlessness and the fear of authority figures dissipates, the death toll on our roads will surely be an inverse measure of our societal health. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 14May2025