I'm with Magnatom on the idea that 'cyclists flout the law to be safer' is mostly, if not entirely crap. Those cyclists who flout the law do so because of various reasons - can't be bothered to stop, don't care about any rules, don't think it applies to them (either literally, or metaphorically), etc, etc. Apart from cycling on the pavement, (where yes, some are novices scared of the road) I don't think many of them would think to justify their actions in that way.
We don't need new laws. We need EVERYONE on the roads to obey the ones we have. And not just to the letter, but to the spirit. I'm just back from France, where I believe (I stand to be corrected if wrong) there is a minimum specified distance for passing cyclists. Pretty much all French drivers gave us that room when overtaking (one close-pass-and-cut-in - guess what, a British car), and many gave us LOADS MORE. Like right over onto the other side of the other lane, wheels on the opposite verge. Even oncoming drivers often slowed and pulled right over. If I got that sort of treatment here, I'd be quite willing to forego some of the 'advantages' I get, like ASLs, shared foot/bike paths. If everyone was just a bit nicer and sensible and switched on and gave way sometimes out of sheer niceness (and that includes cyclists, peds, drivers, everyone), wouldn't it be better?
Meanwhile, I'll go back to dreams of emigrating...