To boil down what Helmet Head is saying into simpler terms: Consider all drivers as idiots and learn to compensate for all their bad habits... from jackrabbit driving, to failing to yield, to failing to signal, to failing to share the road.

If you bike by being more vigilant than the typical motorist, (who is listening to radios, watching DVDS, chomping on burgers and talking on their cell phone) then you have a good chance of avoiding accidents.

But if you bike like most motorists drive, you will no doubt be involved in an accident.