stop smoking patches & giving RO

[TophatMark]

I think the "major" problem is that they made it harder and more expensive to take a motorcycle test, and limited the length of time you can drive one as a learner (after having taken at least two tests to get on the road in the first place - which become void if you don't pass your test). They brought in the "Moped law" which meant you couldn't legally ride a bike until you were 16.. so many people missed that year on the road as "vulnerable" - Your cited "incident" proves that part of your KH250 experience has stayed with you.. a "non-motorcyclist" would blame the biker for being too close, driving too fast, not paying enough attention and not themselves!
Where many people would use a Honda50 (or alternative) to commute to work, the cost of licensing, insuring and taxing means they can't afford to. so take a car instead. Car policies still have a clause that says "The insured is also covered to ride a motorcycle provided that he holds or has held a suitable licence" or something similar - it is impossible to buy road tax using that policy as insurance because the DVLA system demands "specific" registration details.
In France (and many other European countries) you can drive a moped from 14.. this has a greater effect on road awareness (in my opinion) than the "information adverts" because more people have more experience of "bikes". If you notice, the latest advert is aimed at the bikers not having helpful warning signs (diesel on road, Tractor around blind bend, etc) so they should drive more carefully.. subliminally pushing the "blame" onto the bikers (often the victims) and not at the major cause of most accidents. I better get off this soapbox lol