New Jersey motorcyclists like you face hurdles on the road that other motorists do not. Because of your small size, other vehicles often do not see you. Because of your lack of protection, you suffer from higher rates of serious and lethal injury.
This also means dangerous driving behavior impacts you in a strong way. You know that distracted driving poses a danger. There is a lesser known form of driver distraction, though. It is also a psychological phenomenon.
How inattentional blindness works outside of driving
The American Psychological Association discusses inattentional blindness as a potential driver distraction. It is a psychological phenomenon that protects us in daily life. How? It allows us to focus in on one thing while ignoring the details of everything else. The world is full of too much information. If you remembered every detail in every situation, it would overwhelm your brain. In normal circumstances, inattentional blindness is a good thing.
Why inattentional blindness is a driver distraction
In driving, it is a form of distraction. Multitasking is one of the most crucial aspects of driving. If you focus too intently on one thing, it blinds you to important information. This may lead to a driver not seeing you and hitting you because their focus was on their speedometer.
Some studies believe newer drivers suffer more from inattentional blindness. This is because they are not used to multitasking behind the wheel yet. But inattentional blindness is a natural psychological phenomenon. This means drivers of any age and experience are subject to it. No matter where it comes from, it can still cause you harm, too. Drivers and motorcyclists alike should keep this in mind.
