I commute to work now, commuted to and from class in college, and I haven't been involved in a bike wreck since I was 15 (and that one involved a complete misunderstanding of the laws of physics while biking in the snow).

This may be a condition of living in the liberal, semi-urban enclave of Arlington, VA, but I never have much trouble with traffic. Drivers generally give me a good deal of space while passing, even when I'm in the bike lane. (At the same time, I'm able to keep up with or pass some of the cars due to traffic). As long as you 1. let drivers know you're there, and 2. don't trust anyone in a car, you'll be fine. You have a greater risk of dying in a car wreck than in a bike wreck, and I'm sure you're wife doesn't want you to stop driving anytime soon.

Never had anything thrown at me, and the only close calls I've had were due to cabbies or my own foolishness on the MUP.