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Inattentional Blindness: Why Drivers May Fail to See Motorcycles in Plain Sight

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

Phoenix666 writes:

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.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @06:04PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @06:04PM (#618834)

    I thought it meant 2 vehicles, side-by-side in a single lane, travelling together. This is OKish if they agree and cooperate. California allows this; most other places do not.

    You seem to be referring to when some fool drives right along a lane division, squeezing between vehicles that might be stopped. AFAIK, that isn't lane splitting. It's just plain illegal AFAIK, even in California.

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  • (Score: 1) by anubi on Sunday January 07 2018, @03:18AM

    by anubi (2828) on Sunday January 07 2018, @03:18AM (#618989) Journal

    You seem to be referring to when some fool drives right along a lane division, squeezing between vehicles that might be stopped. AFAIK, that isn't lane splitting. It's just plain illegal AFAIK, even in California.

    Thanks... that is *exactly* what I am referring to.

    Two motorcyclists riding side by side makes common sense to me. Between both of 'em, they greatly enhance their probability of recognition. Now their combined pattern area is that of a car.

    Over here in California, my main gripe is those who go 60 mph through traffic going 50 mph. I am driving a big Ford E350, and my mirrors are already clearing other truck's mirrors by about maybe two feet. There is NOT enough room for a motorcyclist between us. But some try to squeeze in anyway.

    And its up to me to decide to either cream the motorcyclist or involve another driver legally in his lane.

    That is one decision I hate being forced, by the motorcyclist, to make.

    --
    "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]