Here's a thought as well and I'll probably be an old man yelling at clouds BUT......I wonder how much of this is associated with modern car technology? What i mean is that in the past most cars and trucks were one wheel drive (rear or front) and most either only had rear abs or none (i'm going back a bit)....people didn't feel as INVINCIBLE , as domineering over mother nature. Your car gave FEEDBACK and you rerspected slick roads...i.e. you slowed down your speed , you kept more distance and you anticipated (Not too mention less distractions in the cars to begin with like no touch screen media units, etc)
With modern cars they practically drive themselves, there's cell phones, there's touch screen navigation and then the already mentioned disassociation with road feel and a falsely perceived safety cushion ("hey I've got four wheel anti lock, all wheel drive, and traction control BABY...I'm safe as an ace...ooppp's ...crash bang bing...)