Originally Posted by dgasmd

Mirrors, just like those ridiculous neon yellow or orange shirts/jerseys are a huge false of security. How do you see a car in your mirror coming behind you at 40-60 MPH and you can judge is going to be close vs hit you by a foot vs move away when its close enough is beyond me. How can you tell the distracted driver from the ******* one just driving too close to you? Beyond me if you can by having that little mirror. One unfortunate thing is that even drivers that would like to avoid you do something very very common: they stare at you on the road and unconsciously steer towards you until they get too close and steer away again as they pass you. We all have seen them over and over. You have them pass you so close you can read the time in their watch only to move away 10 ft after they have passed you leaving you to question why didn't they move the 10 ft away BEFORE they passed you.

Unfortunately, you can't prevent it all. All you can do is be on the cautious side of things by assuming everyone is out to kill you, ride cautiously, and look behind you well in advance before getting into a lane or turning. Hold you line while riding with traffic passing you in areas of little room on the side of the road, and when in doubt if there is enough space, take the middle of the lane until it is safe for you to have room to ride on the side. The rest is purely dumb luck unfortunately.