Sadly, even the best of drivers has to deal with the constraints of being inside a vehicle, and unless they are extremely keen, bicycles and pedestrians tend to be small details that are easily overlooked. I do not drive very frequently, but when I do, I am reminded of how difficult it is to stay aware of everything going on. As a cyclist, I do not make any compromises and make myself as visible as possible. Bright clothing, lights day and night, and methodical route choices all help me to <knocks on wood> minimize my risk. I feel far safer on a bicycle than in a car, and the statistics support that.
From my own experience as a driver, I know that many of the details of the environment fall into the background, and I am frequently startled by the "sudden" appearance of things (pedestrians, bicycles, etc) that were there all along. This, despite my willful intent to be aware (especially as a cyclist).

I notice blinkies before I see hi-vis clothing. In fact, I can see blinking lights from quite a distance, before I even see the form of the source.

When folks ask me why I choose to run my active lighting during the daytime, I ask them if hi vis clothing and/or some blinkies would make this video any different: