Motion Blindness - why they don't see us!!

[DraginMiFeet]

Forum Sponsor

I didn't write this. Link is at the end and I would like to read your comments!


[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT]Motion Induced Blindness[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This is frightening! It works exactly like it says, and is one major reason people in cars can look right at a motorcycle or bicycle and not see it. For those of us who ride/rode this is worth knowing. We have always been dumbfounded by drivers who say, after running us down, “Sorry, I did not see you”. We have wondered, how can that be? I have been the victim of this phenomenon. The conclusion to be drawn from this is that car drivers become mesmerized with what they are focused on and oblivious to all else. The eye-brain connection can actually filter out peripheral information even though it is still physically and obviously right there in front of us to be seen. For motorcycle and bicycle riders this is worth knowing because knowing that this is a real neurological malfunction helps us to understand the danger that surrounds us. Watch this little film clip to see how mesmerization can affect your vision: The dots are always there, your brain just eliminates them periodically.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]From a former Naval Aviator. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]This is a great illustration of what we were taught about scanning outside the cockpit when I went through training back in the '50s.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We were told to scan the horizon for a short distance, stop momentarily, and repeat the process. I can remember being[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]told why this was the most effective technique to locate other aircraft. It was emphasized (repeatedly) to NOT fix your gaze[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]for more than a couple of seconds on any single object.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The instructors, some of whom were WWII veterans with years of experience, instructed us to continually "keep our eyes[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]moving and our head on a swivel" because this was the best way to survive, not only in combat, but from peacetime hazards[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](like a midair collision) as well. We basically had to take the advice on faith (until we could experience for ourselves) because[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]the technology to demonstrate it didn't exist at that time.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][url]http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html[/URL][/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[Sushii]

IMHO, i dont think its Motion Blindness that causes drivers not to see us. How often are you so fixated on something when driving? I believe its because the drivers brains just ignore us bikers because it expects a car rather than a motorcycle. And when something finally ticks, its either just in time or too late. And then theres just careless driving.

 

[NealT]

I think its a bit of both, focusing far as in down the road eliminates focusing near as in the kid chasing his ball in front of you, you can do one or the other but not both at the same time The reason driving/riding skills emphasize the look left then right then left again. That way you force yourself to focus near and far as two separate actions.

 

[cycling]

I didn't write this. Link is at the end and I would like to read your comments!


[FONT="][B][COLOR=black][FONT="][/FONT][/B]Motion Induced Blindness[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR]

[B][COLOR=black][FONT="]This is frightening! It works exactly like it says, and is one major reason people in cars can look right at a motorcycle or bicycle and not see it. For those of us who ride/rode this is worth knowing. We have always been dumbfounded by drivers who say, after running us down, “Sorry, I did not see you”. We have wondered, how can that be? I have been the victim of this phenomenon. The conclusion to be drawn from this is that car drivers become mesmerized with what they are focused on and oblivious to all else. The eye-brain connection can actually filter out peripheral information even though it is still physically and obviously right there in front of us to be seen. For motorcycle and bicycle riders this is worth knowing because knowing that this is a real neurological malfunction helps us to understand the danger that surrounds us. Watch this little film clip to see how mesmerization can affect your vision: The dots are always there, your brain just eliminates them periodically.[/FONT][/B][FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]From a former Naval Aviator. [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT="]

[/FONT][FONT="]This is a great illustration of what we were taught about scanning outside the cockpit when I went through training back in the '50s.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]We were told to scan the horizon for a short distance, stop momentarily, and repeat the process. I can remember being[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]told why this was the most effective technique to locate other aircraft. It was emphasized (repeatedly) to NOT fix your gaze[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]for more than a couple of seconds on any single object.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=#010101][FONT="]The instructors, some of whom were WWII veterans with years of experience, instructed us to continually "keep our eyes[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=#010101][FONT="]moving and our head on a swivel" because this was the best way to survive, not only in combat, but from peacetime hazards[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=#010101][FONT="](like a midair collision) as well. We basically had to take the advice on faith (until we could experience for ourselves) because[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=#010101][FONT="]the technology to demonstrate it didn't exist at that time.
[/FONT]
[FONT="][/FONT][/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#010101][FONT="][FONT="][URL="http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html"]http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html[/URL][/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]

I used to fly light aircart in Europe and aerobatics.
My Instructor said that I must, as you so rightly mentioned, keep scanning. However, Look at the wingtips to keep the eyes working. Actually time of impact with a heavy was approximately 5 seconds. That`s in a head on collision. It would take approximately 3 seconds to recognize the danger and 2 seconds to kiss your A**e goodbye, or do something about it.
You make excellent points.
Thank you.

Forum Sponsor