Realistic expectations of what vehicles are capable and general driver training (at least comparing US to Europe) is a big factor.
When's the last time you drove in a major US city, DPM?
I drove my 91 Jetta D around LA , Riverside CO and OC two years ago without a single issue . I drove through and in all the major cities between my home in NC and CO in many cars with this engine on my traveled route and never had one safety or other power related issue . Until last fall I drove the same car daily around Denver , it still is today in it's new owner's hands . I'm not exaggerating when I say it only has 25-35 hp / ~45-50 Lb-ft up here in the Denver area .
I've driven cars with this engine up here for over 20 years now low power has never been an issue safety or otherwise . I've driven cars with the 1.5 & 1.6 L engine all over the country from their introduction in the US . My last Toyota diesel pickup struggled to achieve 70 mph but still had no trouble maneuvering around in metro traffic . With a manual trans they have no trouble in what ever situation that might arise in everyday driving .
In Colorado on urban freeways 65-80 mph is a commonly clocked speed . On rural freeways it's not uncommon for speeds to be 80 minimum topping out around 90 mph , 68-75 is the normal travel speed on rural highways . If this lower power engine can safely propel me over 1,000,000 miles like it has in many cars it can do it for anyone else at speed . It has little trouble holding 75-80+ mph for hours on end over varied terrain .
They drive really fast in Europe and most of their consumer transport is less than 2.0 L powered . With a lot of it powered by 1.0-1.8 L gas & diesel engines . I drove lower power 1.3 & 1.5 L Toyota's at higher speed in eastern & middle Australia in the mid 90s without issue at speed of 130-150 km/hr . I've owned and driven more than a few gas models in the late 70s & early 80s that had 100 hp /100 lb-ft or less and never wanted for power . Every diesel I ever owned from that era was less than 75 hp / 110 lb-ft . More than a few , most in fact were in the high 40s to low 60s hp / mid 50s to 70 lb-ft rated @ sea level range . With real power levels in the higher altitude west in the 25-35 hp / 30-45 lb-ft range . Where I was no one ever drove 55 mph , we all drove 65-75 mph on rural freeways during the 55 limit time with these cars .
So don't tell me this bullsh!t that lower power levels are a safety issue because from my over 3 decades of driving over 3,000,000 miles they never have been . This is a ridiculous argument with no basis in reality .