Many drivers who cause preventable collisions claim that they didn’t notice certain issues in traffic. People may understand why a driver might insist that they didn’t see a pedestrian or a cyclist. People and bicycles are small and all but silent when compared with the noise of motor vehicles. However, when drivers claim that they didn’t see a motorcycle, that can be more difficult to believe. After all, motorcycles are large and loud. They weigh hundreds of pounds.
How is it possible for people operating motor vehicles to overlook something as plainly visible as a motorcycle on the other side of an intersection?
The brain may not focus on a motorcycle
It is possible to look directly at an object and never recognize it mentally. Frequently, people look right at motorcycles in traffic and do not mentally register the presence of the two-wheeled vehicle. This occurs because of inattentional blindness.
When the brain has too much visual information to process, it focuses more on details that seem safety-critical. A semi-truck or school bus is likely to command a driver’s immediate attention. A motorcycle is easy to overlook unless people intentionally watch for motorcycles.
While there may be a psychological explanation for how drivers fail to notice motorcycles, inattentional blindness does not excuse negligent conduct in traffic. Drivers know they have to share the road and should make a point of watching for other types of vehicles and pedestrians.
People involved in motorcycle collisions may need help holding the driver at fault accountable, and that’s okay. Realizing that visibility issues do not excuse negligence can empower injured riders to take legal action or file insurance claims.
