Cyclists vs Cars

I've grown to love cycling. Living in Cambridge, it is by far the best way to get around, especially since car traffic is gridlocked basically all the time. But nothing comes close to the terrifying experience of almost being mown down by thoughtless drivers. As a cyclist, one has to be extra vigilant on the roads, because a collision between a cyclist and car is unlikely to leave the car coming off worse. Nothing is more infuriating than coming close to death through the carelessness of someone else's driving rather than ones own lack of respect for the road. It's some retribution to see a driver give you a signal to indicate they know they were in the wrong and wish to apologise for it, but it is more often that they'll drive past entirely indifferent to the damage they nearly inflicted. Those ignorant bastards who just drive recklessly with no thought for any other road users are amongst the worst scum I have the misfortune of coming across. It's not as if I am a careless cyclist who gets myself into these situations. So often, a driver simply doesn't bother to look in their mirrors, something that is so simple to do which would prevent so many accidents. I'm not a driver, but even I know most of the rules of the road. And these aren't just arbitrary rules, they're laws, designed to protect people. The roads are only safe when drivers stick to all of the laws that are in place, not pick and choose which to stick to and when to do so. I wish the road laws were more like those in Amsterdam, where cyclists are recognised as vulnerable road users, because that's exactly what we are when compared to the other people on the road. Drivers need to appreciate the fact that they do not own the roads, and stop acting like inconsiderate bullies, because when they're involved in accidents with cyclists, the consequences are usually highly catastrophic for the 2-wheeled commuters.