This is so bizarre to me. I just recently cycled through Canada and the US and everywhere I went people (including sport/fitness cyclists) told me to watch out because cyclists get killed all the time... But in my thousands of miles of touring, the only time I felt a little worried about cars was in Louisiana where some of the roads are very narrow and there are railings along the side so there is nowhere to escape to if an inconsiderate driver comes too close. Took nerves of steel when cars zoomed past with just an inch or two of space. But the rest of the time I just cheerfully pedaled along the shoulder with my hi-vis vest on, only occasionally getting yelled at and coal-rolled by jackasses in pickup trucks. Most of the time drivers gave me plenty of space.
What was much, much more terrifying to me than cars was dogs. In certain parts of the country, people's dogs would charge out of the yard and chase me down the road for a half mile, barking and snapping all the way. I even got bitten once or twice. I'd definitely rate pet dogs as a bigger hazard than cars, or at least a scarier one. More dangerous than bears and coyotes too, in my experience.
My advice for cars is to wear hi-vis gear, ride in the shoulder whenever there is one, confidently take up a decent slice of the road when there isn't, keep an eye on your rear view mirror, pull over to let very wide trucks pass, and never ride main roads at night or in poor conditions.
What was much, much more terrifying to me than cars was dogs. In certain parts of the country, people's dogs would charge out of the yard and chase me down the road for a half mile, barking and snapping all the way. I even got bitten once or twice. I'd definitely rate pet dogs as a bigger hazard than cars, or at least a scarier one. More dangerous than bears and coyotes too, in my experience.
My advice for cars is to wear hi-vis gear, ride in the shoulder whenever there is one, confidently take up a decent slice of the road when there isn't, keep an eye on your rear view mirror, pull over to let very wide trucks pass, and never ride main roads at night or in poor conditions.