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Why do drivers often struggle to spot motorcycles in traffic?

On Behalf of | Feb 5, 2025 | Personal Injury

There are many reasons why people driving enclosed vehicles strike motorcycles. Sometimes, motorcycle riders get too close to bigger vehicles in traffic. They try to split lanes or maneuver too aggressively.

Frequently, the issue relates to decisions made by the driver rather than the motorcycle rider. Drivers who hit motorcycles often make a declaration that they did not see the motorcycle near them in traffic. Even in the middle of the day, drivers may claim that they didn’t spot a motorcycle with its turn signal blinking across the intersection from them. Motorcycle riders who understand why drivers have a hard time noticing them can use that information to stay safer in traffic.

The brain has too much incoming information in traffic

It takes a lot of mental energy to successfully analyze visual information. Those riding in motor vehicles have a constantly changing environment and many moving objects to monitor. Their brains simply cannot reasonably assess all of that visual information.

The brain responds by prioritizing information that seems likely to affect the driver’s safety. People almost always notice a semi-truck next to them in traffic or a school bus approaching them at an intersection. Their brains recognize those larger objects as a safety threat. Motorcycles, along with cyclists and pedestrians, are less of a threat to those riding in enclosed vehicles.

The brain may not prioritize smaller objects in traffic. Researchers call this phenomenon inattentional blindness. Thankfully, there is a simple way for drivers to overcome their difficulty seeing smaller vehicles and pedestrians. They simply need to make it a priority to watch for those vehicles and people in traffic. Making a conscious effort to check for motorcycles can help drivers avoid scenarios in which they cause preventable collisions.

Motorcycle riders generally have to assume that others don’t notice them in traffic. Pretending to be invisible is a crucial defensive driving technique that could potentially save the life of a motorcycle rider. Understanding the factors that contribute to motorcycle crash risk can help riders improve their safety. When crashes do occur, motorcycle riders may need help reviewing insurance coverage and preparing for civil litigation to recover the economic losses caused by a crash, and that’s okay.