Some of the attitude no doubt comes from a conscious or unconscious evaluation of the relative size of the cyclist vs the motorist. They "see" but do not comprehend. They do not perceive any obvious danger to themselves.

There are many thousands of vehicle accidents every day. Most do not involve cyclists. Can anyone here imagine an accident involving a left turn crossing the right of way of through traffic where the illegal left turn person says:

"Sure officer, I saw him. Sure, I knew the left turn arrow was red. Yes, I fully realized that if I made that turn it was likely to cause the other car to hit me."

I think not. Far more likely: "I don't really know what happened officer. I guess I didn't see him or the light or something. This has never happened to me before."

Inattention, carelessness whatever, those kind of people are going to hit something eventually. Probability suggests that occasionally it will be a cyclist.

Then too, Im curious how many times the cyclist says "Yes officer, I saw the red light and the traffic passing through with the right of way and ........ Of course the careless cyclist is much more likely not to be able to speak to the cop after an accident.

Carl