Memory Lapse Plays a Role in Motorcycle Accidents
According to a recently published research study, memory lapse may play a role in motorcycle accidents. Because motorcycles have a much smaller visual profile than their larger sedan counterparts, they are easily overlooked or forgotten on the open road. If drivers forget about the motorcycle on the road, it is easy for them to be struck.
The goal of a recently published research study was to analyze the role of memory in motorcycle accidents. Sometimes, drivers might not see the motorcycle at all, pulling out in front of them or crossing in their lane. In other cases, drivers might see the motorcycle and register the rider, yet forget about their presence just a few seconds later. Both of these scenarios can lead to major accidents. The researchers studied these scenarios in a research article.
A Study on Memory Lapse
Motorcycle accidents garner a lot of attention due to their prevalence and their severity. Without any protection between the rider and the pavement, numerous traumatic injuries can result from even the most minor of accidents. On the other hand, for each motorcycle accident reported, there are hundreds of thousands of safe journeys for motorcycle riders and passenger vehicles. Therefore, the researchers wanted to take a look at what sets these accidents apart.
In order to understand what happens on the road, a team of researchers placed riders in a driving simulator. In this simulator, the researchers tracked where the individual was looking and what that person saw. When the analysts began to look at the results, they were surprised at the results. They found that many drivers saw another vehicle, such as a motorcycle; however, the individual failed to recall the presence of that object just a few seconds later. In many cases, the drivers even began to pull out in front of this oncoming vehicle.
The Driving Scenarios
The researchers placed individuals in a driving simulator and uploaded several scenarios. In the first scenario, the team recorded the movement of the eyes of 60 separate drivers in the simulator. In this scenario, the drivers were to pull up to an intersection, come to a complete stop, and assess the oncoming traffic. The team found that all of the drivers looked in the right locations before pulling out. Unfortunately, when asked about the scenario afterward, 20 of the individuals (a third of the drivers) could not recall the oncoming vehicle at the intersection. Of these 20 scenarios, 14 of them involved a motorcycle. The other six involved a car or a truck. The results of this scenario show that motorcycles are far more likely to be forgotten than a larger vehicle.
In the second scenario, there were 30 drivers involved in the simulator. These drivers were instructed to assess cross-traffic flow at an intersection and then pull out safely. The driver either had two oncoming cars or an oncoming car and motorcycle. The drivers had their eye movements tracked and then had their memory tested. Overall, each driver had their memory tested four times, for a total of 120 runs through the simulator. In the end, the drivers failed to report a car one time. On the other hand, the drivers failed to report a motorcycle eight times.
Interpreting the Results of the Study
The results of this study show that, even though motorcycles make up a small proportion of the vehicles on the road, they are far more likely to be forgotten. Based on the movements of the eyes in the simulator, it is unlikely that people simply do not see a motorcycle. It is more likely that the motorcycle is being forgotten. Forgetting the presence of a motorcycle even one time can lead to fatal consequences. It is important for future studies to explore why a memory lapse occurs on the road. Then, interventions need to be made to address this memory lapse. Drivers need to remember that motorcycles are present on the road. It might save someone’s life in the future.
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. It is important for everyone to pay attention to motorcyclists while on the road. If someone you care for has suffered a serious injury in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, please give me a call today by using (916) 921-6400 and by calling (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Citation of Photo: The picture at the top was found first on Pixabay and has been shown here with permission under the Creative Commons License.
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