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posted by mrpg on Saturday January 06 2018, @06:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the ohoh dept.

The disproportionately high number of motorcycle-related traffic accidents may be linked to the way the human brain processes—or fails to process—information, according to new research published in Human Factors, "Allocating Attention to Detect Motorcycles: The Role of Inattentional Blindness." The study examines how the phenomenon of inattentional blindness, or a person's failure to notice an unexpected object located in plain sight, might explain the prevalence of looked-but-failed-to-see (LBFTS) crashes, the most common type of collision involving motorcycles.

According to human factors/ergonomics researchers Kristen Pammer, Stephanie Sabadas, and Stephanie Lentern, LBFTS crashes are particularly troublesome because, despite clear conditions and the lack of other hazards or distractions, drivers will look in the direction of the oncoming motorcycle - and in some cases appear to look directly at the motorcycle - but still pull out into its path.

The study authors suggest training drivers to be more alert for motorcycles.


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  • (Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @02:56PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @02:56PM (#618758)

    Sigh, not this ignorance. Motorcyclists lane split for two reason, one because some motorcycles lack liquid cooling which can mean they break down completely if stuck in traffic during the summer. It's also safer to get sideswiped than run over.

    American driver's education programs fail miserably in many ways. Failing to educate drivers about how motorcyclists ride is just one aspect of it.

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  • (Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @03:49PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @03:49PM (#618786)

    Then maybe these pwecious bikes should have liquid cooling.

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @09:48PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @09:48PM (#618894)

      That only solves part of the problem. We also don't have air conditioning or even a fan while wearing what amounts to winter gear in the heat.

      There's nothing particularly dangerous about lane splitting when motorists don't drive like dicks.

  • (Score: 1) by toddestan on Saturday January 06 2018, @11:41PM (1 child)

    by toddestan (4982) on Saturday January 06 2018, @11:41PM (#618934)

    Two reasons? I always thought they did it primarily to get to where they are going faster.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @05:06AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @05:06AM (#619014)

      Nope. I can't speak of other states, but around here you occasionally see bikers sharing a lane with each other, but never riding between lanes. Occasionally, I'll sneak by on the left if I'm trying to make a right hand turn and have just a partial car length of car blocking my turn, but that's about it.

      Getting places quicker is just a byproduct of it, not a cause.