Cyclists often go to great lengths to optimize their safety in traffic. Most cyclists are fastidious about bike maintenance and compliance with the law. They may buy cutting-edge safety gear and high-visibility clothing. They may engage in defensive cycling techniques to limit the danger posed by others in traffic.
Unfortunately, nothing that cyclists do can completely counteract the biggest single safety hazard they face on the roads. Even the flashiest gear worn by the safest cyclist can’t prevent drivers from overlooking bicycles on the road.
Driver inattention is a leading cause of crashes
Not every bicycle crash is actually the fault of a motorist. Some cycling collisions are caused by a cyclist making mistakes, such as choosing to bike home after drinking. However, many cycling crashes are the fault of drivers who hit bicycles. Some drivers are aggressive towards cyclists because they resent sharing the road with them.
Others just fail to notice cyclists on the road, and they cause devastating crashes due to their insufficient surveillance of the road. Many drivers who hit cyclists insist that they could not see the bicycle or its rider. However, they might make that claim about a cyclist with illuminated headlamps on their bicycle and fluorescent-colored safety gear.
Their inability to notice the cyclist stems from cognitive limitations, not true visibility issues. The technical term for this experience is inattentional blindness. When in traffic, drivers have an excess of incoming visual information. It is impossible to equally focus on every nearby vehicle, building and person.
The brain prioritizes what seems safety-critical. It may not draw a driver’s attention to matters that do not seem to pose a risk. As cyclists are much smaller than vehicles, drivers can potentially look right at them and never notice their presence.
Drivers can overcome this limitation by making a point to check for cyclists, especially in residential neighborhoods and at intersections. The failure to do so can lead to preventable cycling crashes.
Those hurt by inattentive or otherwise irresponsible drivers may have the right to request compensation for the expenses generated by their injuries. Consulting with a legal professional about a bicycle collision can help injured cyclists understand and exercise their rights effectively.