North Carolina motorcyclists like you are at increased risk on the road. Motorcycles offer a comparative lack of protection. Because of this, motorcyclists suffer from more severe crashes. They tend to have a higher fatality rate.
Distraction contributes a lot to these risks. Today we will discuss a specific distraction. It comes in the form of a psychological phenomenon. It is inattentional blindness.
Inattentional blindness in drivers
The American Psychological Association discusses how inattentional blindness puts drivers at risk. This is a phenomenon in which the brain “blinds” you to everything you are not focusing on. Think of how difficult driving was when you first began. There were so many things to focus on. It is likely that you became so focused on one thing that you missed another. For example, you may have had your focus on your speedometer. In this moment of focus, you did not notice a stop sign that you ran.
How hyper-focus creates distractions
In an ironic twist, focusing too much on one thing is actually a form of distracted driving. Hyper-focus creates just as many dangerous situations as any other form of distraction. This is especially risky for motorcyclists. Why? Because drivers already have difficulty spotting you. Even when paying attention to the road, they may not see you due to your size. Most drivers are not used to looking for vehicles that much smaller than their own. Unfortunately, it means a higher chance of a crash when combined with hyper-focus.
Motorcyclists suffer from a disproportionate number of serious and lethal crashes. Because of this, it is particularly important that they maintain awareness of these issues.
