That's the downside mate.they can be dangerous especially what happened to your mate.cars pulling out or making crazy manovers etc.i always felt safer riding in the dark as any light coming from a side road etc could be seen from a good distance away.in the day time you wouldn't see a car untill it pulled out.
I've stood on a kerb and seen a bike rider die on the white line directly infront of us 6ft away.evening time.it shook me up for a good few days I will be honest.