It is very true that "something out of the ordinary" will make some look again. I have always ridden with very bright running/marker lights, angled so that they are at their brightest, and I am sure it makes drivers look. When I ran without them on the wee, I had drivers half pulling out on me on more than one occasion. when I fitted them, has not happened since.
It is also a very sad fact of life that you cannot guard against the driver who does not look/see/bothers, and in my job (something to do with white cars and blue lights !!!) I see it day in and day out. But I also must defend some drivers, some riders are idiots. Sorry, had to say it. As well as some really bad drivers. You see some that are just an accident looking for somewhere to happen.