Originally Posted by keyven

Would it be safe to assume most cyclists have driven cars before, while most motorists have never commuted by bike?

By that token, most cyclists would be more familiar with the mentality of a driver, but most drivers won't have the same amount of insight as cyclists.

I believe there's definitely a gulf in perceptions between cyclists and drivers, mostly because your generic driver wouldn't have experienced the sensation of vulnerability when a car zooms close to them, or slams their brake inches from a cyclist. Even if no one gets injured, it is a harrowing experience, which no one wants to be subjected to.

Hence, it is easy for a driver to believe that passing a cyclist by a foot or two is sufficient, given that the cyclist isn't visibly injured. By the time the cyclist registers shock or distress, the vehicle may be long gone.

Education may teach drivers to be more careful, but nothing beats real-world experience when it comes to actually feeling such vulnerability in an environment packed with motorized weapons.