Pick your routes with obsessive care. As HiYoSilver said: find roads with lower speed limits, light traffic and wide shoulders. I'll drive to rural areas to avoid dangerous routes if needed. But I don't let the hazards of road cycling keep me from cycling. I rode 8000 miles in the last two years. Consider joining a club and riding in a group with cyclist your age. Clubs will provide safe routes, and travel in groups can provide more safety than traveling alone.

I studied The Art of Cycling by R. Hurst http://www.amazon.com/Art-Cycling-Bi.../dp/0762743166 which provides very practical advice for cyclist. A few hours of prep & planning could be life-saving.