6 cyclists injured by pickup truck attempting to "roll coal"

good point…

but flip coin… riding closer to center might cause even more road rage from people, and could potentially create unsafe environment for rider and drivers.

In theory what you wrote SHOULD work, and people should be smart enough to understand that.
In practice, it doesnt work and people are not that smart.

I, for example, dont want to be in front of the Diesel Pickup truck with the 20" lift kit and super extra wide tires when he is late to the bar to have a few cold one with his friends…