Thanks in no small part to depictions and popular media, there is a common misconception that motorcycle riders are unsafe in traffic. People assume that those on motorcycles might break the law or drive aggressively.
The reality is often the exact opposite. Those who ride motorcycles understand that they essentially take their lives into their own hands every time they go out on the road. They do not have the protection of an enclosed vehicle if something happens in traffic. They therefore follow laws carefully, focus on the ride and try to make themselves as visible as possible to others in traffic.
While some motorcycle crashes occur because riders make questionable choices, a significant percentage of them are actually the fault of those in the larger vehicles involved in the wrecks. Some of those collisions occur due to distracted driving, drunk driving and other obvious misconduct. However, many of them occur due to a much more innocuous and common issue.
Drivers don’t notice motorcycles
The unfortunate reality for those who enjoy two-wheeled transportation is that bigger vehicles may have a hard time noticing them in traffic. Even well-intentioned drivers can overlook motorcycles due to a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness. The brain simply cannot process the vast amount of visual information it receives when people drive at high speeds. It prioritizes details that could have an effect on personal safety. Motorcycles are smaller than enclosed vehicles, so the brain typically does not identify them as a threat.
A driver could look right at a motorcycle from the other side of an intersection and never cognitively realize that the smaller vehicle is present. The inability to notice motorcycles in traffic can lead to drivers making poor choices with tragic consequences for those on motorcycles.
After motorcycle crashes occur, there can be major expenses to address. Motorcycles can be very costly to replace or repair, and the rider might have substantial medical bills that they need to cover. There could also be lost wages to consider. Motorcycle riders hurt in crashes caused by those in larger vehicles might need to negotiate complicated insurance claims or file personal injury lawsuits.
Understanding the limitations of other drivers could potentially help people avoid motorcycle collisions or feel comfortable about taking legal action after one.
