Even the largest motorcycle is generally smaller than a four-wheeled vehicle. Despite their weight and the level of noise they produce, motorcycles are easy for drivers to overlook on the road.
In some cases, they may look directly at a motorcycle across an intersection and then maneuver as though they were unaware of the presence of the smaller vehicle. While that conduct may relate to a lack of respect for motorcycle riders or resentment about sharing the road with smaller vehicles, many times drivers overlook motorcycles due to cognitive limitations.
Understanding why drivers may not notice nearby motorcycles can help riders stay safer in traffic.
Driving overwhelms the brain
Driving is a safety-critical activity that can lead to injury or death after even a momentary lapse in judgment. Drivers must constantly surveil their surroundings, watching for signs of danger.
When traveling at high speeds, there’s simply much more incoming visual information than the brain can effectively process. In such scenarios, the brain focuses on visual data that seems to represent a clear safety threat.
For most drivers, a motorcycle does not appear as big of a safety concern as larger vehicles. Therefore, drivers can look at a motorcycle on the road without being consciously aware of its presence. People need to account for this cognitive deficit as they make decisions in traffic. Drivers who intentionally watch for motorcycles are less likely to cause unintentional crashes.
Motorcycle riders hurt in collisions related to a driver’s surveillance failures may need help holding a driver accountable. Reporting the crash and reviewing crash records with a motorcycle collision attorney can help injured riders pursue the economic justice they deserve after a wreck.
