I can't offer you an answer, just an opinion. Killing other people in a war doesn't garner respect in my world, but that's another issue for another time. I can only show respect for deeds done in my lifetime. I'm of the philosophy that respect is earned on BOTH sides of the generational divide. That's very true.
Mass transit is cheap, efficient and plentiful for the most part over there.
Also, the way most of Europe is 'spread thicker' encourages maximizing available space. So they never really developed a mass love affair with the car as an 'independence identity machine' like we have.