The phenomenon also functions in the realm of visibility, where now moto riders are worried about conspicuity and buy dayglow vests, reflective tape, running lights, extra brake lights etc., mainly to get noticed by drivers in sealed cars listening to loud music, chatting on phones, and texting.
The following might risk a really long thread hijack, but I have to chime in. I'm sorry if I offend anyone. I'm not looking for an argument, since this issue ranks right up there with religion, gun control, and abortion. I just wanted to post this really long rant because sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks like this. Maybe I'm just looking for a little validation. Regardless...<rant>
I REALLY dislike:
- Extra Running Lights
- Modulating Headlights (brights/low)
- Running Brights during the day
- Air Horns
- Flashing Brake Lights
- Excessive reflectivity
- And American drivers that don't realize their European car has a rear fog light(s).
I think the desire for conspicuity really became popular after the Hurt Report (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Report) since it was one of the main findings. Logically, people starting linking SMIDSY's as the main cause of accidents. And quite frankly, I think people champion this conclusion as a way of resolving the inner conflict that their decision to ride a motorcycle is reckless and somewhat irresponsible. This reasoning is so pervasive that it's entered into traditional parlance to the point that anyone who's ever had anything to do with motorcycling is quick to say, "I had to [blah blah blah]. I mean, it's not me I have to worry about. It's the other guy that's going to kill me."
Personally, I think this attitude is destructive and a failure to accept responsibility. I've always lived by the following:
If I am involved in an accident on my motorcycle, then it is ALWAYS my fault.I've been in two accidents.
- Pushed the front on a set of old race DOT takeoffs while being a hooligan on mountain roads. My fault on many many levels.
- While first in line waiting at an intersection, two cars collided and one ran into me and my buddy. My fault. How? You should always try to avoid being the first in line at an intersection...that's where most of the accidents are.
My line of reasoning is so absolute, that if a frozen turkey fell from the sky and landed on me, then I'd still say it's my fault for riding my motorcycle that day. This may all sound extreme, but it is exactly the attitude needed to maintain healthy (albeit extreme) defensive riding...the kind that will save your life. Mild defensive riding will usually help you to avoid most accidents...but this truly paranoid state of mind is the only thing that will help when you're faced with the absolute worst drivers. I was on my motorcycle once, going down a four lane divided road. It was a really tight neighborhood so the cross streets had really horrible visibility. Nearly a half a block in front of me, some guy in a donk blew straight through his stop sign and right across all four lanes going about 45 mph. That would have been one horrible accident if I was in his path. And no, I wasn't riding extra cautious because of the low visibility. But if I was then I could have reacted even if I was in his path
Why do I even care?
As a motorcyclist, I'm just worried that the desire for conspicuity may lower the vigilance of riders. I think the only way to avoid a SMIDSY is to try really hard to make sure you're no where near anyone. Don't linger. Have an escape plan. Anticipate the most ridiculous driver responses always. I know MSF pushes these ideas and the whole attitude, but I just see too many new riders shrugging their shoulders like they've accepted that riding a motorcycle is just rolling the dice. We've had a lot of new rider accidents in my office over the past three years. Maybe they're embarrassed and so they find comfort in the proverbial, "There's only two types of riders. Those that have been down and those who will go down."
As a driver, I dislike excessive conspicuity because it disrupts scanning patterns. Peripheral vision is crucial for tracking multiple objects. Our center vision is dominated by the fovea which is designed/evolved for high detail perception. Engaging the fovea is slow, whereas peripheral perception is fast. If my peripheral vision is continually triggered by a flashing tail light, I'm going to disrupt my scanning pattern and engage the fovea to discern the threat. I do that too many times and BAM accident. To counteract this, my brain tells me to ignore that threat. It's just like the boy who cries wolf. Now when the motorcyclist in the left lane really gets on his brakes hard because of a deer on the Interstate, I might not respond to it as quickly. BAM accident.
Fast scanning with peripheral vision relies on pattern recognition. Think about playing Call of Duty. The good players sweep very quickly and look for that one tiny artifact that doesn't fit. They aim and shoot at it, often before they've even successfully ID'd it.
There's a reason why auto/moto manufacturers are regulated strictly when it comes to lighting. Once we drivers understand these patterns, our brains can scan and find the things that don't fit more effectively. Take the guy running his Mercedes rear fog lights because he thinks he's running his front fog lights. If I'm not mistaken, they actually light up both brakes lights on Mercedes. Of course the third brake light doesn't come on. Now my brain has to recognize that side lights minus third light is not a braking situation. Add to that the fact that it's blinding. Another example. Anyone ever been freaked out when they suddenly notice a truck in front of them being towed backwards? We're trained to shit our pants when we see oncoming headlights in front of us. And another. Anyone remember when the third brake light just started showing up as an aftermarket accessory. They freaked me out for a while. Come to think of it, my Dad called them idiot lights. Maybe that was the seed of these crazy ideas of mine.
So right about now in the thread people may chime in and say, "I've got to look out for myself. As long as they see me, that's all that matters." Or, "Hey, if I pissed someone off, then my headlight modulator did its trick. I was noticed." Maybe I'm a different kind of thinker here, but that just sounds like simple selfishness to me. Ride defensive and ride predictable. It's safer for you and for others.
</rant>
I'm really sorry about that. I hope you didn't read the whole thing.
I assure you, this was not directed at anyone here or on any other forum. It's just my opinion and is in no way meant to be destructively critical of anyone else. I'm a typical INTJ, but I won't let my judgemental leanings prevent me from buying anyone on the forum beers if we show up to a group ride and you're wearing...
