[Zambyte]

This comment makes it seem like people are built differently in the US than they are in the rest of the world, but that obviously isn't true. The roads (particularly intersections, where crashes tend to happen) are in fact built differently though. Urbanist resources like NotJustBikes and Oh The Urbanity! YouTube channels do a great job of highlighting the differences, and how they force drivers to pay attention through the laws of physics rather than the laws of signage.

[estimator7292]

No, the US has a culture of not giving a single shit about anyone but yourself. A frighteningly large fraction of drivers will do anything they can get away with. Here in the land of the free, rules are for other people, not for me.

[pandaman]

Pedestrians are the same people: I often see a person nonchalantly crossing a six lane street in the middle of a block to get into a parked car on the other side. If someone decides to post on Instagram while driving at that time then it's another innocent pedestrian taken out by evil drivers but a few minutes later the same person could be posting on the Instagram while running over another.

I don't think it's a culture though, it's just people genuinely not being punished/rewarded for putting themselves in danger and avoiding danger when growing up.

[IAmBroom]

American exceptionalism, even when used as a negative, is a stereotype, and often a fable.

[lucyjojo]

but there are policy differences

american cars are measurably bigger/taller/heavier than in EU/JP. and they drive measurably faster than in EU/JP. and the walking infrastructure (crossroads/pavements) is measurably worse.

also anecdotally it's way easier to get a driving license in the US than in France or Japan (I don't know for the other EU countries) so i suspect there is a higher number of bad drivers on the road, but i have no proof for that.

that said, i went to my license renewal training session in japan last month and they informed us that the most accident-prone situation is similar to the op's one. (left-turn but on green, since turn on red is illegal and we drive on the left). when those happen generally there is a big rework of the spot to avoid repeat accident. and we have a lot of old drivers too...

[jiri]

Yeah, but I dont see how your people can get away of ignoring laws of physics, as this is what the parent comment by "Zambyte" mentioned.

[apothegm]

Why not both?

[Gigachad]

Some amount is likely cultural too.

[greenavocado]

German drivers are objectively WORSE than MOST American drivers, speaking from experience driving thousands of km/mi in both. German drivers completely unnecessarily accelerate very strongly, take corners quickly, and slam on the brakes when stopping much more so than in the USA. The main difference I can attribute fewer deaths to by observation and critical thinking, is that Europeans have to be far more vigilant of random stuff appearing on the side, since many streets can have cars randomly coming from the right side because of what qualifies as a secondary road, and in some cases, you must yield to them, so the paranoia is much higher in towns. Of course, there are way more stops and crosswalks, cyclists, and pedestrians in most European towns, also elevating ones alertness. Finally, speed limits in European towns are much lower than anything in equivalent US towns because everything is more compact. Also of note is truck speed limits in Europe are generally 80 KILOMETERS/H whereas American truckers frequently drive north of 80 MILES/H. Cattle haulers are known for going 90-100 MILES/H on I-10.

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

That would train higher reflexes in the drivers. I drove in Rome, Italy, for 8 years and another 7 years in Canada. While Rome is far more dangerous because of the stuff that happens on the road, the drivers are way more ready to avoid incidents. I have no idea if this is better or worse,just giving my perspective.

I find driving in Canada very relaxing,but it often puts all my senses to sleep,which is scary.

Also nobody shoulder check left when turning left in Canada (Vancouver). That's a 100% kill of a scooter in Rome,because the swirvle between the cars.

[lycopodiopsida]

Not driving like a grandma is not a big security issue if drivers are accordingly trained and expect it. Not looking for other participants, especially pedestrians, is one.

[IAmBroom]

Citation needed. Maybe, but maybe "some" is essentially zero.

[Gigachad]

Considering driving and road rules is entirely learned behavior that requires tens / a hundred hours of training before they let you do it unattended, it seems pretty reasonable that the environment you learned in plays a pretty big impact on how you drive.