I know we don't have automatic liability for rear collisions, notice the words "almost invariably"?
2/
The plural of anecdote is not data. Cyclists are subject to the same laws and liabilities as anyone else, and since cyclists are usually wealthier http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece it should not be a problem reclaiming uninsured losses from them.
In Europe, these laws work. They make the roads safer. They save drivers money through reduced premiums. You reach what is called "The Virtuous Cycle" which involves a higher rate of cycling but a drop in the accident rate. The law change would encourage cycling and the more cyclists there are the safer the roads become.
ok
So its just these laws is it? Not the different cultures of transport.