Traffic Safety Facts
Pedalcyclist fatalities occurred more frequently in urban areas (66%), at
nonintersection locations (67%), between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
(30%), and during the months of June, July, and August (36%).
In 1994, the average age of pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes was 28.9; in
2004 the average age of those killed was 38.7, and the average age of those
injured was 28.6.
Pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 21 percent of all pedalcyclists killed
and 32 percent of those injured in traffic crashes in 2004. In comparison,
pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 37 percent of all those killed in 1994.
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2004/809912.pdf
A few comments; NHTSA mission is to reduce the major cause of (car) crashes, which intersections are a major problem. They are trying to fit cyclists and pedestrians into the same data collection modal which will not gives us the best information on how to ride safe or correctly identify our major problem areas. It takes a team of researchers reviewing bike crashes to come up with some meaningful data for us. Unfortunately this review is not done all that often and is generally done under a specialized grant. With that being said, the last review identified turning cars as the major problem, which does not necessarily imply intersections (it also includes driveways and alleys.)
For the rest of this I need to put a disclaimer that my research in this area in not as thorough as I would like so the following is more my opinion and take on things and should not be considered (near)