[pjrob]

Theres alot to answer here but there is doubt among some researchers going back a long way that government mandated safety interventions ever work as they say and also doubt that safety features put in by manufacturers really make much difference.
One such doubter was Reuben Smeed, the founder of Smeeds law, who said that road deaths were related to traffic congestion. Increasing traffic volume leads to an increase in fatalities per capita, but a decrease in fatalities per vehicle. Others say its vehicle-miles that matter. I'm sure this would connect with the oil price idea too somehow.
Another, I think Adams, said that the emerging 3rd world countries have the same death rate any of our countries had decades ago regardless of the safety features that our cars now have and that it correlates with Smeeds law.
To get back to the original idea, feeling unsafe when you drive and driving accordingly was the idea all along and we cant manufacture that or fool ourselves. If leaving off your seatbelt doesnt make you feel unsafe then there can be no benefit either in regard to risk or fuel saving.
Its just that I didnt expect this outcome. I was not even looking for a fuel saving benefit.
I do appreciate there being a forum such as this to discuss this. I'm sorry its so challenging.