February 6, 2022 – A new study from England’s Bournemouth University found that drivers seemingly ignore some of the risks motorcycle riders notice. The study was organized to determine how people process visual road information.
Human brains are programmed to recognize certain things as potential threats. Big objects, especially big fast-moving objects, are one of them. But a motorcycle is smaller in comparison to a car, so our brain prioritizes the car to avoid overtaxing itself. Because bikes are smaller, it’s harder for our brains to accurately judge their speed.
Our peripheral vision doesn’t actually pass on a lot of information. Instead, our brain fills in the relatively small field of vision with things it knows historically are in the vicinity. So, if something new, say, a motorcycle rider, enters your peripheral vision, your brain might not perceive or process it.
