Don't come near me or I'll kick you

Sometimes when drivers get really, uncomfortably close to me I think about different techniques that could prevent this closeness. I have heard theories about who drives closest to whom. How if you are a woman or wearing bike gear that can affect how people treat you on the road. I am a woman and I wear the bike gear but I have experienced all types of situations. I think it depends more on what road I am on and where I am riding. On roads that have more room or an extra turn lane, I usually get more space, but not always! Maybe the time of day plays a role in all this.

Whatever the case, I have a strategy that I would like to test out. This is partially inspired by those drivers who will honk at me when I am riding politely along the side of the road (or also when I am drifting towards the center). I think that if I ride erratically - swerving and swaying and darting this way and that - that will scare people enough to stay away from me and give me space. If they think I am a crazy, bad cyclist then maybe they will want to keep as far away from me as possible because they do not know which way I will swerve next! I think it just might work, or get me killed.