While that makes sense to a degree, they don't even offer or express any concern over my safety. As a mother of two sons, I have raised my sons to offer to walk a woman to her vehicle. She can decline (I can decline), but when a man gets up from a table in a restaurant and basically waves and says, "See ya!" it does not exactly inspire a woman to feel as though he's truly interested in her.

I think there's a balance between worrying about safety and failing to be a decent date. The car thing is just one part of a bigger whole here.