It is as well to be aware of the dangers, particularly at junctions, but the upshot of all of this is that cycling is actually about as safe a form of road transport as it is possible to get, with the possible exception of going by bus!

Adding in the health benefits far outweigh the risk of dying and you are more likely to live longer because you are a cyclist.

I agree. But what really honed my road sense was riding a motorcycle for several years. The extra vulnerability that comes from being on two wheels AND travelling fast really helps to develop a focus on safety. Many of the survival skills I learned during advanced training carried over into my cycling.