I'm aware that cycling is more dangerous in the US than in other civilized countries. I live in an area that's fairly tame for cyclists. Still, I ride defensively and avoid some kinds of roads. For the most part I stay off roads that have more than two car lanes -- just a rule of thumb that works for me.
One odd thing I've noticed. When drivers are within close range of a traffic light, they will often speed up and do other dumb things in order to beat the light. So it's sometimes the minor intersections with side roads, just before the major intersection, that seem more dangerous than the major intersection itself.