'Road accidents were very rare in those days.' (the 50's).

Sorry, Sen, but 5,012 people were killed on UK roads in 1950, against 1,793 in 2017. The highest peace-time fatality rate was in 1966 (7.985) and the lowest in 2013 (1,713).

From my own memories of driving from the 60's onward, I believe that the average standard of driving from a regular, properly trained motorist is much better now, but the situation is complicated by much busier roads, children on mopeds, a higher proportion of drivers who learnt in countries with a different road-using culture (not a reflection on your excellent husband!), air bags, very much more powerful cars but better road signage, improved surfacing (potholes permitting), more demanding tests and MoT's, and an infinity of other factors.

In any case, there was immense carnage in largely horse-drawn Victorian traffic, with a death rate that certainly dwarfs ours, but separate records weren't kept.