I agree, and part of my GP point was, I think almost every driver agrees, even in different words: Drivers are very adverse to hitting humans, whether walking or biking.
I don’t have the inclination to look but I’d put good money on statistics showing a negative correlation between enforcement of driving offences against cyclists and cyclist deaths or injuries.
Drivers have very much at stake. They could be accused, tried, and possibly convicted of homicide, and even the first two can dramatically change lives. And nobody wants to kill someone, and live with that trauma for the rest of their lives, and always be known as someone who killed.
I don't have evidence, but let's not imagine people are the sociopaths they claim to be on the Internet.
When I bicycle commuted in the city, I had about one incident a week of a driver close passing or cussing me out. In one incident, a driver revved their engine at me and followed me home because I reminded them that they had to give three feet of space when passing. I thought I was going to die when they went for their glovebox. If I ever cycle commute again, it will be with a concealed weapon.
In other contexts, using violence for political ends would be called terrorism. On our roads it's just another day.
There is a whole industry dedicated to selling cameras and warning radar for cyclists because driver attacks are so common in fact.
Every serious cyclist I know has a few stories. One of mine includes a passenger leaning out of a car trying to put a plastic bag over my head.
Another has a builder stop his van to threaten me with a claw hammer.
These days I have cameras too.
I know plenty of cyclists. While some have had accidents with cars, some drivers have driven away rather than face the consequences, I've never heard these stories of naked aggression. I've heard of the occasional argument, but often a self-righteous cyclist is involved.
I know what I know from first hands experience.
I don’t think that anything I could have possibly done could be self-righteous enough to justify the actions of those involved but that’s just my opinion.
To be clear, I'm not talking about mistakes. There's 10x more of those. I'm referring to just people taking dangerous actions with no regard for the safety of anyone.
I think that is the leading cause of road rage and the disregard drivers have towards pedestrians and cyclists.