I find wider and softer tires to be uncomfortable. And since wider tires can deform dangerously while cornering and are more prone to pinch flats I don't think they are necessarily safer.

PS: I biked commuted on schwinn cruisers in the late 70s to early 80s, mtbs in the late 80s to mid 90s, and road bikes from the mid 90s on. Basically over the course of 30+ years of commuting my tire size became progressively smaller.