[tdons]

You primarily watch out because you don't want to kill someone else.

[lmm]

So are people in the Netherlands inherently much more caring than people in the US? Or do people, consciously or otherwise, actually care a lot more about monetary liability than causing the deaths of others?

[tdons]

I refuse to believe that people care more about the monetary and legal consequences of killing another person than the moral aspect.

Hypothesis: Dutch drivers are more careful around cyclists primarily because everyone rides a bicycle themselves. Knowing what it's like riding a bicycle in heavy traffic makes you a more careful driver.