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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.
(Score: 2) by tekk on Saturday January 06 2018, @07:50PM (3 children)
That's why in some states there are explicit laws which allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yields. In general a lot of the "dangerous" behavior for cyclists is the same reason motorcyclists do the same "dangerous" stuff: it keeps you moving and away from traffic, because stopped and near cars are the 2 biggest danger factors.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Saturday January 06 2018, @08:52PM (2 children)
According to my quick bit of research, those "some states" are comprised of: Idaho, and.... that's it. I think Delaware and California are considering such laws.
But you're exactly right about the "dangerous" stuff.
There's also a law in Virginia (not sure about other states) that bicycles and motorcycles are allow to go through red lights after stopping and waiting 120 seconds, enough for two full cycles of the light, so they don't get trapped if the light doesn't detect them.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @09:55PM
That's a dead red law. In WA. it's not a time period, the light has to go around once without giving you a green at which point you can go anyways as long as it's safe.
There's one big issue with it that cops may or may not recognize it as a legal excuse for ignoring a red light.
(Score: 2) by tekk on Saturday January 06 2018, @10:48PM
Quick search said it started in Idaho, it was added to Delaware last year, and various municipalities have added it in Colorado. As far as the 2 cycle thing, I think that's a thing here in NC but that may just be hearsay. Depending on the traffic (cyclist) sometimes I deal with a light, but if it's, say, a left across a 4 line highway I usually use a crosswalk if it's available. Perks of a bike rather than a motorcycle :)