Since we're using anecdotes to present empirical evidence...
I'm a collision analyst... and the term 'safer' can be relative and absolute. People have shared examples where they think being 'higher' saved them from further damage and harm. And, maybe they did in THAT particular collision. But, maybe instead of hitting that animal on the road, they attempted to swerve and the vehicle became uncontrollable because of modifications. There's no way to know all the variables and how they will come into play in YOUR particular collision.
The idea of 'The Jeep Wins' because it has less damage. So... where does all that collision energy go then? If the Jeep frame and bumpers isn't deforming, then all that energy is going to make it to the occupants. Sure, that Kia Rio is crumpled up like a can, but it's done it's job absorbing energy. You can't declare the Jeep absolutely 'safer' than the Rio...
The true test is vehicles of a similar size colliding. How does a Wrangler fair when compared to say... a Ford Explorer? Since we can't crash every type of vehicle together... we crash them into walls and off-set barriers, or smash things into them.
The best, the very best, a Jeep Wrangler has ever tested is 3 out of 5 stars on ANY front, side, or rollover collision. The best the new Ford Explorer has tested... 5 out of 5.
The Wrangler is not a particularly 'safe' vehicle by design. Lots of new vehicles can take big hits... the Wrangler is no different... but it is very, very weak in side impact protection.
So to say that any modifications are going to make it 'safer' is not fair... unless you are talking about structural reinforcements like race-rated roll cages, fuel cells, 5 point harnesses... which all require things like helmets and neck support to be 'safest'. Think NASCAR and that's how you make something 'safer'. Big tires? Not so much.
Now... back to the anecdotes... People here see a crash or two, or are involved in a collision and have a great story about their Jeep. I see 100's of crashes, and I can tell you that at highway speed, you're pretty much at the mercy of a whole lot of physics, and most likely you are going to die if you hit either another car, or an immovable object, at 70mph. It's just too much. Now, some people make it... but those are often not 70-0mph collisions... they bounce around and smash into lots of things. Imagine Jeep vs. Semi...
At city-speed though... most new cars you are going to walk way from a 30mph collision... again... some bad luck and maybe a bumper from an F350 hits you in the face when it broadsides your Ford Fiesta... but most of these collisions people survive.
The safest vehicles in my experience? Full-size SUV's like the Toyota Sequoia, BMW X5... these things have immense structure, dozens of airbags, huge dimensions for crumple zones to do their jobs... a Wrangler has none of these things.
So... since you can't really control other drivers, or what they are driving... you are left to decide if your vehicle is 'safe enough'. I live in a mountain area, winter 6 months solid, very few divided highways. My highway trip vehicle is a Sequoia. But... I weigh the risks, even after all the dead people I've seen... and have a Wrangler.
I would never tell someone a Wrangler is particularly 'safe' by design. It's really not. It will be interesting if the JL makes any advances in this area...