Important information about being invisible

[wa3wheels]

A serious piece of advice, that most people are not aware of:


In a motor accident, wherein a speeding car hits a slower moving vehicle coming from the side,
the car drivers often swear that they just didn’t see the vehicle coming from the left or right.
Well, they are not lying. They really don’t see the vehicle coming from the side, in spite of broad daylight.
This phenomenon on the car drivers’ part is known as “Motion Induced Blindness”. It is definitely frightening.
Once airborne, pilots are taught to alternate their gaze between scanning the horizon and scanning their instrument panel, and never to fix their gaze for more than a couple of seconds on any single object. They are taught to continually keep their heads on a swivel and their eyes always moving. Because, if you fix your gaze on one object while you yourself are in motion, your peripheral vision goes blind. Till about three decades ago, this “heads on swivel & eyes moving” technique was the only way to spot other aircraft in the skies around. Now-a-days they have on-board radars, but the old technique still holds good.

Let me give you a small demonstration of motion induced blindness. Just click on the link below. You will see a revolving array of blue crosses on a black background. There is a flashing green dot in the centre and three fixed yellow dots around it. If you fix your gaze on the green dot for more than a few seconds, the yellow dots will disappear at random, either singly, or in pairs, or all three together. In reality, the yellow dots are always there.
Just watch the yellow dots for some time to ensure that they don’t go anywhere! (Click on the link)
[url]http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html[/URL]
So, if you are driving at a high speed on a highway and if you fix your gaze on the road straight ahead, you will not see a car, a scooter, a buggy, a bicycle, a deer or even a human being approaching from the side.
Now reverse the situation. If you are crossing a road on foot and you see a speeding car approaching, there’s a 90% chance that the driver isn’t seeing you, because his/her peripheral vision may be blind! And you may be in that blind zone!!
Happy motoring !!
...

 

[paulbrinker]

That's quite a wake up call. Thanks

 

[finless]

Interesting. So I played with this a little and noticed something at least for me.
The yellow spots seems to dissapear when they pass close to or through the center of the blue X. Slowing it way down when I see a spot dissapear I look then and see it just passed almost through the center of a X.
Interesting.

Thanks for sharing,
Bob

 

[Blue Star]

Wow

and now I am dizzy

 

[Dan McNally]

This phenomenon has been known for a long time, and I can't understand why it isn't hammered into new drivers. I learned it in drivers ed in 1965. We were told to never focus on what was in front of us, constantly, but to continually scan our mirrors, as well, to keep our eyes from developing "tunnel vision." I've been driving since 1966, 47 years, and the only accidents I have been in (three) were when other people hit me . . . one was when I was parked! I never "not see" the guy on the bike. Another thing that should be hammered into new drivers is to back the :cus: off and not tailgate. Accident rates would plummet if folks did both . . . as would insurance rates!

 

[PaSpyderRyder]

Wow..........

Vert interesting .... I think I learned something today




Thanks,
Bob

 

[BajaRon]

You have to ride like everyone is trying to kill you on purpose. When you assume that they are going to wait till the last moment and pull out in front of you, it makes you alert and ready. If they don't pull out it's gravy. If they do, you're not surprised.

Anyone who has been ridding very long has had a driver look right at you and then pull out. They may have turned their head your way, but they never saw you. You assume at your own peril.

Day Runner lighting to the front really makes a difference for being seen.

And then there are deer. Everyone sees the 1st dear and watches as they pass safely in front of them.... And then they hit the 2nd deer that they never saw because they were carefully watching the 1st deer which posed no danger.

 

[jerpinoy]

Thanks in posting this awareness some of us can use.:yes:

 

[docdoru]

and now I am dizzy

...here is the cure...:joke:

 

[Bob Denman]

I always ride as if the approaching driver:
is drunk
is falling asleep
is hungover
just got fired
his bank is foreclosing
his wife just left him for a guy that looks just like me
and so did his daughter! :yikes:
And since I also live up here in "venison alley":
The eyes never stop moving laterally across the real estate that I am approaching
I let my peripheral vision keep me in the roadway.

 

[DLewis]

That was TRULY informative. I try to drive "defensively" at all times, it's just those times when the little kid in me wants to "go fast" :lecturef_smilie:when the road is clear. Doesn't happen often, but I do have o keep "the kid" happy. Thanks for the info. :thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Great reminder..!!

the visual really helps bring the point home. Have always preached this to all riders and potential riders when selling bikes. Saddly not all paid attention...thanks..!! :thumbup:

 

[flaggerphil]

They used to teach that...I guess they don't anymore. It's something I've known since I took driver's ed in the '60s. And something I also taught my kids.

If you treat every car out there as being driven by someone who wants to take you out...you're halfway to solving the problem. I ALWAYS assume car drivers don't see me. Always.

Always.

Yes, always.

 

[finless]

I always ride as if the approaching driver:
is drunk
is falling asleep
is hungover
just got fired
his bank is foreclosing
his wife just left him for a guy that looks just like me
and so did his daughter! :yikes:
And since I also live up here in "venison alley":
The eyes never stop moving laterally across the real estate that I am approaching
I let my peripheral vision keep me in the roadway.

I always drive as if the approaching driver is Bob Denman on his way to the dealer to pick up his new 2014 Spyder :roflblack:

Bob

 

[Bob Denman]

Be afraid :shocked:... Be VERY afraid! :yikes:

 

[3 Wheel Addict]

If you watch the yellow dots the green center disappears, crazy. If I don't watch my wallet the money in it disappears... along with the wife! She often reappears but never with the money!!

 

[spydaman60]

If you watch the yellow dots the green center disappears, crazy. If I don't watch my wallet the money in it disappears... along with the wife! She often reappears but never with the money!!

that too is a natural phenomenum! it will always be there no matter what shape, color or condition your wallet is in.:roflblack: by the way, great post! something to show your children before they start driving.

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for posting the information that we should all be aware of.

Also like the advice about driving as though everyone out there is trying to get you.

Both items have saved me a few times. :thumbup:

 

[mxz600]

...here is the cure...:joke:

Thanks Doc, that thing just gave me a seizure.

 

[cuznjohn]

driving

i am always looking at ladies in the other cars so i don't fixate on one thing