Note that in those days, the EPA estimates were higher than the actual mileage found by the people testing the cars. This lasted until the late 80s. Look at the new cars. The new cars cannot be compared with the old ones when talking about fuel efficiency at a particular speed. Safety advocates forget to mention that nearly all cars on the road today have shoulder strap seat belts, whereas they were in thier infancy in 1973.
Many states now have seat belt laws.
In 1973 they did not. The safety advocates tell us more by what they do NOT say than by whet they DO say. I still don't know how they came up with that figure of 6,400 increased traffic deaths as a result of the NMSL's demise. They probably don't either. It is difficult to believe an insurance company's claim that they need more money when you know that the insurance company owns an island and throws extravagant parties for its highly paid executives.