I do agree with the fact that there are idiots on both forms of transport, and that people should be cycling more safely than they do. I also don’t know statistics on causes of cyclist/motorist accidents, however, having cycled in London for 6 or 7 years, and followed the safety campaigns, and therefore the cyclist fatalities, which are generally fairly small in number (8-20 a year), it seems, anecdotally at least, that the vast majority are one: women, and two: cycling as directed on the right hand side, often waiting at traffic lights, and are then crushed by turning HGVs/Buses.
I have never once heard of a cyclist being killed after being hit by a car having jumped a red light, although I don’t doubt that it could happen, it’s clearly nowhere near as common as being killed when an HGV turns across your path. Maybe an example where your perceived risk affects your judgement?
P.S. I should point out that I don’t jump red lights, some people seem to espouse that it is ‘safer’ to get ahead of the traffic, I think you can be pretty safe while still waiting at the lights, although several friends have been hit from behind doing just that, it’s never been very serious. I don’t think jumping lights is particularly dangerous if done properly, of course it could be extremely dangerous if done improperly, but fortunately the vast majority of cyclist in London who do it, seem to do it safely (as in they don’t get hit, it may not look safe to you or I). I choose not to do it because I know it annoys motorists and is used against us in arguments for better protection for cyclist and better cycling infrastructure.
