Why Drivers Often Have a Hard Time Spotting Motorcyclists

No matter what protective equipment you wear or how good a rider you are, riding a motorcycle is risky. Of course, there is danger in reckless riding. But one of the most dangerous aspects of motorcycling is being overlooked by others on the road. Every year, many crashes occur because drivers fail to see the biker in time.

Understanding why drivers often have a hard time spotting motorcyclists is crucial for both riders so that they can take protective measures and for injured bikers to help explain fault after an accident. In this article, we dive into psychological and perceptual reasons, road conditions, and examples to shed light on how and why these visibility issues occur.

The psychology behind invisibility

Inattentional blindness and mental models

Inattentional blindness is a phenomenon where people neglect to notice people or objects in plain view because their attention is focused elsewhere. Even if drivers glance in the direction of a bike, they still may not see it. At the time, the driver’s brain filters visual information through the expectation of seeing something expected, like a car or a truck. As a result, the driver may not see or “ignore” smaller, unusual objects.

To take it a step further, even if a driver’s eyes pass over a motorcyclist, their mind might not register the biker as a hazard. Drivers who do not frequently encounter motorcycles are less likely to have built a “mental model” for when they appear. This inexperience makes it harder for them to recognize bikes, delaying their reaction time or causing them to overlook the rider entirely.

Misjudgment of speed and distance

Sometimes, even when a biker is noticed, cars or trucks may misjudge the motorcycle’s speed and distance. Due to the smaller size of a bike compared to more common vehicles on the roadway, drivers may perceive the rider to be farther away or moving more slowly than they actually are. This distortion of a motorcyclist appearing far but is closing in fast leaves little time for the driver to react.

Road and environmental factors that hide motorcycles

Small size, low visibility, and background blending

Physically, bikes are harder to detect. In addition to being relatively small, they have a narrow profile, few to one headlight, and lower contrast against road surfaces. All these factors contribute to motorcycles being inconspicuous.

Not only are motorcycles hard to see, but their riders are hard to see, too. Motorcyclists wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing were 37% less likely to be involved in an accident compared to those without high-visibility gear. Similarly, bikers wearing white or light-colored helmets were involved in fewer crashes than those wearing dark helmets.

Blind spots, vehicle design, and obstructions

All vehicles have blind spots, and bikes are no exception. Riders are especially vulnerable to being caught in them and “disappearing” from the driver’s field of view. If drivers do not physically turn their head to check if a motorcyclist is in their blind spot, they could change lanes or turn into the biker.

Also, the design of large SUVs, vans, and pick-up trucks, thick windshield pillars, and other drivers near intersections regularly obstruct a rider’s visibility. Even roadside signage can block a driver’s line of sight, giving them a hard time spotting motorcyclists.

Lighting, glare, and weather conditions

Glare from the sun, especially during sunrise or sunset, and from oncoming traffic can reduce contrasts and make motorcycles harder to see. Bad weather, like rain, fog, or snow, reduces visibility and depth perception. Under these conditions, the bike’s limited headlighting may not be noticeable.

Low-light settings, such as early morning, nighttime, or areas with poor street lighting, make motorcycles even more challenging to detect. It is easy for a bike to blend into the background or be mistaken for a distant vehicle.

Road design, curves, hills, and intersections

Curves, hills, embankments, and poorly designed intersections can hide motorcyclists until it is too late for the driver to maneuver. A driver going over a rise or around a bend may not see a bike until it’s too close.

Intersections are particularly problematic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 35% of motorcycle fatalities happen at intersections. Many of these fatal accidents occur when cars turn left across a rider’s path or when cars enter traffic without thoroughly scanning the lanes of traffic.

Example: How “not seeing” leads to a collision

Consider the following scenario:

• A rider approaches the furthest left lane, slightly behind a passing car.
• The driver of the passing car decides to change lanes and enter the left lane. Before doing so, the driver checks their mirrors but does not physically turn to glance over their shoulder.
• Because the motorcycle is within a narrow visual “window,” the bike falls into a blind spot.
• The driver, assuming they are clear to change lanes, strikes the motorcyclist before even realizing the bike was there.

Psychologists refer to this pattern as a Look-But-Fail-to-See error. Although the driver did not intentionally ignore the biker, they simply failed to notice their presence until it was too late.

Why visibility issues matter in motorcycle crash claims

When a rider is injured in an accident, fault hinges on whether a driver acted negligently. Proving a driver violated basic traffic duties such as checking blind spots, failing to account for pedestrians, bikes, and other vehicles, abiding by the speed limit, or adjusting to weather conditions. Perceptual limitations and visibility issues are not a ruse. These cognitive and environmental factors are grounded in scientific research.

Demonstrating that motorcyclists took reasonable measures to enhance visibility can help counter defenses that the biker was difficult to spot. Being able to show the driver should have reasonably known a motorcycle might be present can help reduce arguments for a finding of comparative fault.

Legal help for riders injured in a blind spot collision

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash because a driver failed to see you, Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can help. Our Tennessee-based team of experienced attorneys are here to investigate whether the driver who hit you was negligent and help advocate for your recovery. Consultations can be scheduled via phone, text, or online form. We stand ready to discuss your legal options.