Motorcycles may not be as large as four-wheeled vehicles, but they are still sizable. Additionally, motorcycles tend to be relatively loud, especially when riders make aftermarket modifications to add sound systems or increase the noise generated by the exhaust system.
Despite being large enough to be clearly visible and loud enough to be noticeable from blocks away, motorcycles are still easy for drivers to overlook. Frequently, the motorists at fault for motorcycle collisions claim that they didn’t see the motorcycle before the crash occurred.
How is it possible drivers can overlook a vehicle that weighs hundreds of pounds and generates loud noises?
Drivers see but do not think about motorcycles
The inability to notice the motorcycle in traffic is not a visual issue but rather a cognitive limitation. There is so much incoming visual information while driving that the brain cannot analyze everything. As such, prioritizing issues that appear safety-critical is common.
Drivers almost always notice larger vehicles, such as school buses, but they can easily overlook pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles. The only way to overcome this cognitive deficit, known as inattentional blindness, is to intentionally monitor traffic for smaller vehicles and pedestrians.
When drivers claim that they didn’t see a motorcycle, what they truly mean is usually that they didn’t bother to look for motorcycles specifically when approaching an intersection or maneuvering in traffic. They may still be at fault and liable for the crashes they cause in such scenarios.
Those injured in serious motorcycle collisions may be able to file insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits, regardless of the excuse a driver provides for causing a crash. Failing to check for smaller vehicles does not excuse decisions in traffic that cause harm to others.