A lot of the postings here are 12-year old logic: "If Suzie has a boyfriend, why can't I!!?" As in.. cars break the rules all the time, so why can't I? Cars weight at least a ton, so life is just unfair...
Anyway, I've been riding on pavement for many decades, and I've almost been turned to strawberry jam innumerable times. My rules for long-term survival: come to a stop on the red and wait for the green at all traffic lights (duh!). Stop signs: come to a stop, and only proceed if you have complete visibility and awareness of everything that could come at your from every direction.
There have been many times that after starting up from a stop sign, I have been startled by something approaching fast from the side. As in ninja pedestrians and cyclists in the dark, or grey-toned vehicles in the dusk hours.
Another thing: use good lights front and rear. Not cheap little blinky lights, but flamethrower lights that cast shadows a block away.