I agree 100% that the environment greatly affects the situation.

Several of the local rides are on flat roads with nothing around but farms, corn, soy beans and those old mean country dogs Many, not all, of the farmers hauling heavy equipment on the roads will pull to the side and let the bikes pass. These are narrow county roads and often the equipment takes up the entire road.

While riding the country roads we don't encounter too much traffic but when we do we break off into single file. I have to admit we often blow-off the stop signs unless there's another vehicle in sight. When other cars are present, we stop! One of the things we do need to watch for is motorist blowing off those stop signs, too