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> Ironically, bigger and safer cars make both the driver and the roads a lot less safe as the prisoners dilemma means everyone loses. [6][7]

You can have safer cars, like cars with emergency braking, without having bigger cars. Americans have just been severely been marketed to to make horrible financial and social decisions on cars: how many people do you see buying giant SUVs the moment they have a kid and save zero dollar for their college? Absurd.

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The prisoner’s dilemma I believe refers to the fact that bigger cars often total smaller ones, so others are now forced to adapt by buying a bigger car, which increases the number of big cars, which then creates a cycle.

> bigger cars often total smaller ones

And if you have the misfortune of getting hit by a bigger car while not being in a car yourself, you are likely to be critically injured, permanently disabled, or dead. The way to adapt is to drive more, or avoid places with motor traffic. All of these add to the risk and economic cost.

can't cheat the inelastic collision math

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