Lack of MPH and Car Weights - History shows the reason

The environmentalists, consumer activists, and all the other people who have railed against auto makers as to why MPG (miles per gallon) have not gone up in 10 years all have forgotten to look at one place: GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) sticker on every car.

 

The same people who complained about lack of MPH going up have also called for more safety features and at the same time want more room in the cars.

 

It is a known fact that for every 100 lbs (44 kg or so) that is added to a car you lose 1 MPG. Back in 1975 the average compact car weighed 2,800 to 3,400 lbs (1272 to 1400 kg). If you look at a compact car weight now you see 3,800 to 4,400 lbs (1,724 to 2,000). 1000 extra pounds you lose 10 MPH - if you built the cars like they did back in the late 1970s changing only the engines then the cars would be getting 38 MPH+.

 

Question is, are these people who complain willing to live (or die) with the lowered built in safety features which have been forced into the cars now?