Sorry if my response came across as a flip answer, but I ride as if my life depended on it. I've taken motorcycle classes and the first day they told us "if you ever have a crash, it's your own fault".

Most crashes happen when you're distracted, so next time you're tempted to check your bike computer/adjust your glasses/peek at your gears while in traffic or gravel, think again.

As a bike riding child, crashes were a common event and not even worth mentioning. Now, at age 64 and riding faster and sometimes in traffic I know that a crash is very bad thing, so I ride as if my life depended on it.