C++ is nicer to use than C, and with currently preferred style it’s safer, though not safe in the way Python is.

You might also try Go and Ada. I confess to not having clear understanding of how Rust beats Ada or vice versa. There are very few people really knowledgeable about both, who have addressed this afaik. I can say coding in Ada feels clanky but very solid. Idk yet about Rust.