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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, @03:10PM (7 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @03:10PM (#618767)

    Sigh, this ignorance. Bikers ride faster than traffic typically because it makes is less likely that we'll be stuck in somebody's blindspot.

    What's more, those speed limits are set based on car traffic. We take up less space in a lane, which means we're more likely to be able to swerve around a hazard without going into somebody elses lane. We can also take corners more quickly without crashing as well.

    Going much faster than the speed limit is rather foolish in most cases, but don't pretend like car drivers are any better. I regularly get passed by car drivers while I'm riding that are upset because I'm only going 5 over the speed limit.

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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @03:34PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @03:34PM (#618777)

    but don't pretend like car drivers are any better

    Who's pretending? The difference is car drivers are more likely to survive not being better. Maybe even physically unharmed...

    Yes don't pass other vehicles too slowly[1] but don't pass other vehicles closely at speeds higher than you are willing to collide with them. Lots of bikers break this rule. Breaking this rule may not ever kill you but it has definitely killed or maimed for life many other bikers.

    [1] Never stay to the side of another vehicle for long. Doesn't matter if they can see you or not. Especially if it's a truck or similar large vehicle: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30085/want-to-live-stay-away-from-trucks/ [roadandtrack.com]

  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday January 06 2018, @08:08PM (2 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday January 06 2018, @08:08PM (#618861) Journal

    I ride. I ride fast a lot of the time. In fact, I ride pretty aggressively. But, your excuses for breaking the law are pretty feeble. I drive fast because I'm a fucking speed demon, and I like going fast. I like to see the expressions on people's faces as I whip past them. I'm not going to bullshit people about their blind spots. I know, you know, everyone knows that motorists have blind spots. We bikers have our own, for that matter. There are several ways I can avoid a blind spot. I can slow down, I can change lanes, I can pass, or I can just move over in the lane, where I no longer occupy a blind spot. But, my first choice, almost all the time, is to pass the guy ahead of me. Speed is an addiction, just like any other drug. Roll that throttle, and watch the world flash by - THAT is why I go faster than most traffic.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @10:00PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @10:00PM (#618900)

      It's not bullshit and it's barely illegal. Riding 5-10 over the speed limit is often safer than riding the speed limit. Especially in cities where the speed limits have been artificially lowered.

      Hell, I'm regularly behind cops driving their cruisers that fast.

      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Sunday January 07 2018, @06:13AM

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 07 2018, @06:13AM (#619031) Journal

        Barely illegal? Is that a legal term? Buddy, the fact is, if a cop sees you riding just 1 mile over the speed limit, he can pull you over and ticket you. And, of course, once he has you on the side of the road, he can find more infractions. Your exhaust may be factory fresh, and he can say it's to loud. A light may have a hairline crack in the lens, which you can't even see until you look at it at the right angle. (A diesel cop got me for a cracked rim once, that was very nearly impossible to see.) Further, it doesn't stop at the bike. Your driver's license has a history has a driving record, not to mention that it is the gateway to any kind of arrest record and court history.

        Barely illegal? Tell that to people of various colors who have been subjected to "stop and search". A pair of fingernail clippers might be deemed a weapon, by some asshole of a cop.

        Riding 5 to 10 mph over the limit is breaking the law, and citing safety reasons for doing so will get you no points, no sympathy from a judge. Those speed limits that have been artificially lowered, were lowered for the purpose of revenue generation. You are walking, talking revenue - revenue on the hoof, so to speak.

        You may rationalize speeding however you wish, to yourself. Don't expect the rest of us to share your rationale.

        I speed because I like speed, and I'm smarter than the average cop. I like breaking the law, and I do it routinely. If/when you can make such a statement, you'll probably be happier with your life. And, getting a ticket won't be such a devastating experience. You won't get all teary-eyed, pissed off, and upset at the loss of money. Instead, you can shrug it off. "The bastards caught me - let's see how long until they catch me again!"

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Reziac on Sunday January 07 2018, @02:53AM (1 child)

    by Reziac (2489) on Sunday January 07 2018, @02:53AM (#618985) Homepage

    Being able to swerve faster to avoid hazards also means you can swerve INTO being a hazard that much faster, too. Just because you can avoid something doesn't mean the guy in the next lane can avoid YOU when you suddenly appear in his space.

    --
    And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @05:24AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @05:24AM (#619020)

      You do realize that a motorcycle takes up roughly a third of the width of a car, right? A motorcycle swerving usually remains in the same lane as it was traveling in. A pedestrian or car that pulls out too far or fails to clear the lane usually leaves at least a portion of the lane free to swerve into.

      I've had to swerve while riding in the past and I've yet to have to leave my lane, but I have had a couple times when I was riding the centerline for a few feet with no oncoming traffic. Plan ahead and it's not an issue.

      The main situation where you're not going to be able to swerve safely is when there's oncoming traffic and the entire lane ahead of you is blocked up. But, if you're actually planning ahead, you can see that coming and plan accordingly by leaving more space in front of you.

      A car though cannot swerve without leaving the lane that it's traveling in. You might be able to swerve a foot or so if you've got a smart car, but as a general rule a swerving car will leave the lane. A swerving motorcycle won't leave the lane unless the rider either plans to or lays it down.

  • (Score: 2) by Bot on Friday January 12 2018, @01:05PM

    by Bot (3902) on Friday January 12 2018, @01:05PM (#621351) Journal

    What blind spot? A 50km/h biker in the center of his lane following cars sticks out like a pig in a mosque, I was about to take a pic, but, you know, I was driving.

    --
    Account abandoned.