Why we don't "SEE" motorcycles ...

A friend of mine shared this fantastic article on why we don't "SEE" motorcycles, pedestrians, or other objects that I thought I'd share here as well.


http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28306/why-you-dont-see-motorcycles-on-the-road/

It kind of surprised me a little but it makes perfect sense.

 

More than once, I have been surprised by not seeing another car that was apparently lined up with the right side "A" pillar on my truck as I was about to make a left turn. No accidents, but as a result of that, I have taken to leaning forward and back at those times to make sure that I'm seeing anyone who may be approaching from either side. I can easily see how a motorcycle could go unnoticed if it can happen with a car or minivan in the same situation.

 

That article looks familiar. Link:http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/50241-Why-You-Don-t-See-Motorcycles-on-the-Road

 

Haha... I guess I missed it the first time around!

 

Unfortunately, new impact standards for roll overs have meant that car makers have to beef up the roof supports to a big degree. The A pillar in my Honda Fit is wide enough that I have sometimes lost pedestrians behind it and twice gotten the WTF stare as I stop a few feet from them. I really hate it.

 

I agree with the pillars in some vehicles as I've been caught by them myself. The real problem was me, I wasn't looking around them. I agree with what the guys says about the brain and seeing. BUT that's no excuse, cause the person is not being diligent in looking for all cross traffic like a driver is supposed to.

In one way it will never totally change. So it's up to me to change and trust NO ONE in other vehicles. I need to be sharp and vigilant not to put myself in bad situations. If it does happen I better be able to react very quickly to the situation. I must train myself to be very defensive. Not scared or paranoid or over confident about riding. I'm always covering the brake and clutch, well 95%, I think about scenario's like a T-bone in to a car. At the last second jump up and hopefully over. I'm the only one that will keep me alive, so I work on it.

 

Jeff

You might like this earlier article - from a British Airforce pilot which explains some of the theory behind those observations..

http://www.slobc.org/safety/documents/road-survival-guide.pdf

In short, the path of human evolution means that even people with "perfect eyesight" are actually pretty crap at really looking. Hence military pilots spend weeks of their expensive training just learning "how to see" because if they don't spot an enemy aircraft first, then they die.

As for read across to the roads...

Basically Governments across the world need to change their driver training to ensure people "know how to look". Until that happens bikers will die.

Sadly at the moment the British driving test is a joke - walk outside the test centre - can you read a license plate at a specified distance? - fine your good to go - until your 65 without any follow-up checking. Yet a few years back a survey of drivers arriving at a UK motorway rest area found almost a quarter could not read license plates which were closer than the specified eyesight requirement.

The HEADLINE message is to ensure you move your head to one side or slightly forward/back to change your perspective and force your brain to use your core eyesight rather than your peripheral vision, which may reveal something which was missed by your eyesight within an entirely natural saccades (blank space).

Sadly Government initiatives on road safety are more about gaining votes and revenue collection than really making our roads safe for everyone. Whilst the military part of Government understand the problem it seems the roads people have no idea.

Hey Ho its not likely to change anytime soon - so until then assume they are all out to get you!

Take care





SkiMad

 

Hey guys you are all so right ... Looking but not seeing, I have missed a rider at times when I have been in the car. In fact I would rather be on the bike instead of the car. I commute to work everyday on the bike up the freeway and feel safer on the bike than in the car and you have to ride looking out for everyone else. Have been riding for 40 years now and I guess you learn to notice the tell tale signs of dangerous situations. My dad taught me early to be on guard so I look up the road on one side sweep across to the other side and look back down, doing this on a regular basis and that's mostly how I ride (one had to in North Queensland to avoid the kangaroos)
Ride safe and watch out for the crazy ones

 

people are so old here, you know nothing can be done,

 

Yesterday I had some asshole said the reason he went through a stop sign and almost hit my white and red truck was because he didn't see my turn signal. What an ass would he have seen me or my daughter riding our bikes

 

Been driving to work now for two weeks, been hearing a commercial on 94.7 here in LA ....
Look twice for motorcycles, share the rode......
Oh SOW.... YOUR A DICK, GET LOST TWIT

 

That's because May is motorcycle awareness month!
You'll also see it on those large LED road signs too.

 

Also have seen the signs but didn't know May was motorcycle awareness month. ......
How bout we make every month MAM?

 

One important thing every rider should do is make sure every single light is working %100, a little light blub actually is quite bright at night-plate lights are very common to not be working-headlights should be upgrade to brighter lights-the vfr has some of the best lights on a mc.:moony:

 

the wolf is here-get over it:bootyshake2:

 

Ya mean mutation mut.

 

Ask any personal injury lawyer why people don't "see" motorcycles. You can get an answer real quick and probably the right answer.

Also, some people are able to "see" motorcycles better than others, especially when driving, due to low latent inhibition. LLI is hard to understand and diagnose but many people very good at track riding and driving have LLI. If you are one that can ride the twisties very fast, as in the Smoky Mtns., you may have LLI. That area offers some of the best twisty riding in the country for those that enjoy being hooligans and menaces to society. No, wait, I like to ride there.....; )

 

Yes, yes and a big yes on all suggestions to survive the cement jungle.
Always say, act like your invisible even if there looking you straight in the eye.....pretty much have ta have those Spidey senses up a running ALL THE TIME.