That's a good point. Before I even ventured on the road I read a lot about how I should ride and that probably has an effect.I think they are getting better - but also my own cycling is more decisive (taking the lane, primary where appropriate and so on) so it might be me rather than "them".
My perception is that they are. I seem to be getting less close passes left hooks , verbal diarhoea etc etc than in years gone by.
Have I just been lucky lately?
Japanese imported Shoguns are the worst, probably because Pajero (their original name) is Spanish for wa%nker or to$$erShogun-meister similarly afflicted as well, permanent phone-in-hand-to-right-ear syndrome means he can't steer very well either.
I reckon the typical drive I encounter is pretty courteous. Plenary of arrisholes, but Defoe the minority. It helps perhaps that the number of motor vehicles is slowly falling, as is the number of road miles travelled, so maybe drivers are getting more chilled.