Certainly well known throughout the test pilot community. But trust me, we care in that community very deeply whether we live or die.
Yes. I enjoy test flying, and flying in general, but I enjoy going home at the end of the day a whole lot more!
I think that my insurance company thinks that flying is safer than driving, as the insurance for my plane (at a much greater hull value than my car) costs less than the insurance for my car. When last I did the math, my plane's insurance premium suggests that they think that I will fly it for 103 years before I have a total loss claim.
If you are a pilot, and you are generally concerned about flying being safe, you should probably stop being a pilot. If you're asking if you are safe, based upon your training and currency, or if that specific plane is safe, there are long established criteria against which to measure both.
Otherwise, flying is as safe as you, the pilot, make it!