How unsafe are the roads for cyclists?

I love road cycling, but there is a legitimate risk. Cars are dangerous, drivers are distracted and impatient and some of our roads can be dangerous for cycling even when everyone on them is following the rules to the letter. A few bits of advice; 1. If you're able to, get yourself an indoor training setup - Something like a Wahoo Kickr paired with Zwift or MyWhoosh. Personally I find these way more engaging than doing a loop around a track simply because of the 'video-gamey' element and getting to follow structured training or ride with other people. You'll probably want this for winter training anyway at some point. 2. Find a local triathlon or cycling group for actual riding outside - There's real safety in numbers, plus you'll be led by experienced cyclists who know safe and quiet routes and while be doing their utmost to ensure the safety of the group. Some of my hairiest cycling moments have come from being in a new area and not knowing where to avoid. These usually go out on the weekend, so coincide nicely with the long ride, doing the smaller training sessions indoors or on a track don't seem too bad. 3. If you're not already doing so, learning to drive can help your cycling on the road immensely. You learn the theory, which is important, I see waaay too many e-scooter riders and cyclists in my city who clearly don't know what they're supposed to be doing or things like how to use a roundabout. Also you'll get to see things from the drivers perspective, this can teach you stuff like where blindspots are, how drivers approach junctions etc. Obviously Triathlon and getting your licence are both super hard on your wallet, but you can grab one of the free theory test apps which will get you a bit of knowledge. 4. Avoid overconfidence or getting annoyed - When you do graduate to cycling on the road, it's only a matter of time before you encounter and angry driver. 99% of times this is just a bit of an annoyance, they pass a bit close and it's over in seconds. But in my view it's always better not to escalate of go looking for trouble for your own safety. There are many situations where you'll be in the right, or have priority, but that won't help you if you come to blows with their car. 5. Once you've had a bit of experience on the road, there are things that can help as small additions to decrease your risk. Stuff like a Varia radar on the back of your bike, maybe a camera on the front. I'd also generally always go out with some sort of light, even when it's fairly bright out, to help you stand out. 6. If you do go out on your own, use stuff like Strava heatmaps, Komoot, or the NCN maps to find the quiet, bike safe routes.