Visual Aids for Cycle Training

I think you should ask why the cars move as though to proceed? Having seen a cyclist has stopped, as you did, then that's a clear signal to them to go.

It could be argued that you were overlycautious in that situation, thus actually creating some of the risks via your actions, which you then use to justify your initial stopping. Key to me is the video is called 'defensive' rather than 'assertive'.

I agree it's all a huge risk assessment exercise on the fly, we're all doing this daily.

Keep safe, keep having fun :)

Watch closely, I was talking about the car to my right that tries to proceed forward after it has stopped, but the van turns into the junction.

Overly cautious - quite possibly. In this scenario the risk of more serious injury is presented by the car, IMO, not a cyclist colliding with me from behind. To me, that's playing the odds in favour of avoiding a more dangerous outcome. Does it increase the likelihood of a rear-ending - yes, but that I can live with.

Take it easy.