Male insecurity is part of it, but public policy is a bigger part: specifically, the “chicken tax” and CAFE loopholes. Fix those, so that manufacturers are actually allowed and incentivized to make small trucks that people want (and disincentivized against making gigantic ones their “flagship” models), and the problem would greatly diminish.

Loosen passenger safety regulations while they’re at it. It’s become insane. Cars are safe enough for occupants, and have been for two decades at least.

Meanwhile, maybe we can make pedestrian safety more of a priority.