Some tend to think cars are a highly regulated option for transportation on professionally engineered roads that people can choose if they want. Others think that cars are synonymous with a basic right of transportation on the untamed highway, and they can do whatever they want as long as they have a plate on it.
But there's multiple realities in this country. Unfortunately, a new car that meets the latest safety standards is essentially reserved for the upper middle class. The lower middle class is driving used cars that met safety standards of a decade ago, with worn parts that may or may not get inspected before they fail. And the working poor are either struggling to afford rent in a city with public transport, or they're struggling to keep a 15-25 year old car functional, let alone compliant or safe.