Have had too many friends whacked by cars not to be VERY careful on roads to the point of a bit of paranoia. I don't ride roads (very far) without a partner as we see different things which helps. In metro area I ride alone on paths as I know the traffic patterns and someone will come along shortly if I biff it and need help. Mostly about acceptable risk management...consequences vs cost in time, effort, cost. I don't want to be out of commission because of an accident at all so I'm pretty cautious about the obvious stuff. I've always worn a helmet and always will. Try not to go fast in traffic on the local paths that are shared with walkers, runners...they are always going to do the unexpected..at the usual intersections I expect someone to pop out of the woodwork. There are times to ride 35 mph downhill on the path....like 6:00 AM this morning when there were VERY few people on there, no pedestrians at all and all cyclists with their heads up. Like skiing, most accidents are caused by excessive speed for the traffic or weather or road conditions (sand, gravel, wet). At 59 I don't want to be recovering from anything traumatic whether I was in the right or in the wrong when the accident happens so I don't try to assert rights...I try to survive. I go overboard to be polite to anyone on the path. Oh...and I dismount when I see someone on a horse. They get freaked at bikes sometimes and I have seen them dump their riders. Common sense and anticipation.

Sound paranoid, huh? Nope...realistic, think ahead and am pretty conservative about it. Just don't need any consequences to deal with. That given I am not stopping doing anything out of fear....just try to minimize the risk.