Maybe from cars hitting people - but how about death from obesity and environmental degradation of suburban auto-oriented lifestyle as compared to urban walkable/transit oriented lifestyle.
There have been massive increases in quality of life as a result of cheaper, faster transportation of people and goods.
Anything can be made to look like a massive net negative with the one-sided comparison that it's fashionable to apply to cars, social conservatives, and a handful of other topics around here.
Both points definitely true. I guess my argument is you can accomplish the same (probably more?) massive increase in quality of life without the suburban auto dependent monoculture. Look at quality of life (especially with regard to ease of mobility) of some bike infrastructure leaders like Copenhagen versus SF Bay Area where you pretty much have to own a car.
