because cars are so safe for the occupants that they don’t realise the danger they;re putting themselves in
+ general stupidity…
On my regular route there’s some straight-ish but twisty country roads which, being on a bike and higher I can see approaching cars round the other side of the bend. Cars behind don’t want to wait behind me and overtake on a blind bend. I wave to get them to hold back because I know there’s a car approaching on the other side of the bend. Makes no difference.
If they were a) not stupid, they wouldn’t overtake on a blind bend. If they b) felt any sensation of risk, they wouldn’t overtake on a blind bend.
Anyone who climbs knows you’re far more bold when you top rope or boulder with a big mat beneath you than you do if you’re leading. Same in a car – far more bold when you’re insulated from the risk.
One reason on my road bike downhill I don;t fully let the bike go is that the consequences of an off are horrible to contemplate but in a car I’d happily go 40+ mph. Brakes, seatbelt, airbags, big metal box etc make me feel safer
But few drivers have this self-awareness and therefore drive like fools… I wish they wouldn’t, it spoils the riding…