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I would definitely agree that some of the driving is better. Like, I've noticed that people in cars actually let me in and pass properly. But when you get one of the arsehats, it's the same shit as always. I had a stupid close pass from a massive supermarket lorry in the Breckland and the first time I left the house to go to the office some cunt in a white van cut me up before I'd left Ealing. Yeah, it's all anecdotal, but for 15 years I didn't consider sticking cameras on my bike and then I did, which goes to show that there's either an increase in shit driving or I've got sick of it to the point where I'm going to cam up. If I could just get one that would last long enough for the longer rides.
I did have one of the most remarkable rides in the Chilterns in years a month ago - I couldn't believe how many people passed us wide. It was like being in Spain. People waited, looked and then went by using the whole other lane. But, I can't help but think this was because it was school holidays and all the cunts that usually drive in the Chilterns (all the breeders that can afford it) had fucked off OS post-covid rules.
Ignoring those two issues, there comes a point where chasing arbitrary numbers for a distance/time isn't enough motivation and people like me decided "ooh mountain biking looks fun"
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hippy
It can be the case that it's more dangerous but that people's perception of the danger has increased out of proportion to the actual increase.
Oddly enough, I actually rode a bicycle on the road the other day, which is unusual for me unless I'm TTing, and I thought the standard of driving was better than expected. There are probably reasons why the reality didn't match my expectations, including but not limited to my driving in London all the time, where driving standards are really poor, but cycling in leafy Berkshire, where maybe people have got a bit more chilled and more willing to share the road. It's horse and MAMIL country, after all, and thick with people whose stress levels are likely to have gone down over the past couple of years since they're WFH and not suffering from existential angst about inflation and possible redundancy.