Target Fixation
#1
Old AND Slow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 68
Bikes: Ross, Trek L200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Target Fixation
One of the things I never learned when I started riding a bicycle as a kid is target fixation. You go where you look. If you see an obstacle, look at your path to avoid the obstacle, not at the thing itself. If you want to do a tight U-turn, look over your shoulder, not at your front wheel or that ditch. If you are about to go into the curb, look away from it and the bike will follow.
I think lots of people kind of instinctively learn this, but as I lack any eye-hand coordination I never did and always wondered why I had so much trouble getting away from hazards. I would fix on the problem and head right for it. It almost seemed the handlebars didn't want to move and I would ride right into the gutter or the bump. I didn't learn about target fixation until I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic riders course. I learned target fixation can be so bad motorcycle riders have ridden into the side of semi trucks that were passing them. They couldn't keep their eyes off the truck, steered right into it and were killed. On a bicycle it usually isn't so bad, but target fixation may explain why you have so much trouble staying out of potholes.
Look where you want to go. Don't look at the front wheel, look down the road and away from any hazards.
I think lots of people kind of instinctively learn this, but as I lack any eye-hand coordination I never did and always wondered why I had so much trouble getting away from hazards. I would fix on the problem and head right for it. It almost seemed the handlebars didn't want to move and I would ride right into the gutter or the bump. I didn't learn about target fixation until I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic riders course. I learned target fixation can be so bad motorcycle riders have ridden into the side of semi trucks that were passing them. They couldn't keep their eyes off the truck, steered right into it and were killed. On a bicycle it usually isn't so bad, but target fixation may explain why you have so much trouble staying out of potholes.
Look where you want to go. Don't look at the front wheel, look down the road and away from any hazards.
#3
Senior Member
This is also why motorists often nail us, regardless of how visible we are; we give them a target on which to fixate, and the fixation overwhelms their "fender judgement."
__________________
Have Colt, will travel...
Have Colt, will travel...
Last edited by Rex G; 01-27-08 at 02:42 PM. Reason: typo
#4
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,798
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,326 Times
in
837 Posts
I, too, have below-average hand-eye coordination and abysmal large muscle coordination. We learn to compensate.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#5
Senior Member
Especially with older "whitehead" male drivers.
#6
Violin guitar mandolin
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Friendsville, TN, USA
Posts: 1,171
Bikes: Wilier Thor, Fuji Professional, LeMond Wayzata
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Police refer to flashing lights as "drunk magnets." I mix in steady lights for that reason, and worry about having any flashers at all.
A key in handling is having a reference line picked out and focusing on it. Provides something for feel of the machine to hang on. G forces, yaw angle, etc. Easier to learn with a high performance car. On a track, preferably. Eye focus point really does do nicely for easy handling.
Good observation.
Also plays a key role in combat, but that's another story.
A key in handling is having a reference line picked out and focusing on it. Provides something for feel of the machine to hang on. G forces, yaw angle, etc. Easier to learn with a high performance car. On a track, preferably. Eye focus point really does do nicely for easy handling.
Good observation.
Also plays a key role in combat, but that's another story.
#7
Still Around
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 285
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Presumably the solution for this "problem" is to dress in all black attire and cover up reflectors and throw away any rear lights. Got it!
#8
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
I suppose target fixation must have some basis in truth, but how do you explain all the stuff we do look at, yet never run into?
If they were killed how does anyone know what they were actually looking at?
If they were killed how does anyone know what they were actually looking at?
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 01-27-08 at 10:13 PM.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 959
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why do they still use flashing lights? I think maybe there is something of an urban myth to this. Shall we send a request to Adam and Jamie?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: in bed with your mom
Posts: 13,696
Bikes: who cares?
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
so does this mean all those motorists who claim 'not to have seen' the cyclist they hit were actually looking right at them all the time?!?!?
Last edited by randya; 01-27-08 at 11:13 PM.
#12
Senior Member
That may be your solution. You go right ahead. I prefer to pay extra attention when this seems most likely to happen, such as an approaching vehicle after a break in traffic. Then, as hotbike mentioned, it may be a good time to take more of the lane. Or, perhaps just change lane position a bit, within the lane, to add a bit of unexpected movement that just might break the fixation.
__________________
Have Colt, will travel...
Have Colt, will travel...
#15
No one carries the DogBoy
They teach this in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. It works very well on a bicycle too. Only thing, be sure to look with your whole head, not just your eyes. It works better, but either way, target fixation is real.
#16
Still Around
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 285
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That may be your solution. You go right ahead. I prefer to pay extra attention when this seems most likely to happen, such as an approaching vehicle after a break in traffic. Then, as hotbike mentioned, it may be a good time to take more of the lane. Or, perhaps just change lane position a bit, within the lane, to add a bit of unexpected movement that just might break the fixation.
BTW Does this "unexpected movement" safety technique work on car drivers from the opposite direction who might "fixate" on my bike headlight?
No thanks. I choose neither technique. I choose to ignore techniques based on mitigating urban legends and internet rumors about the danger of "fixation" on bicyclists, and will stick with appropriate lighting and expected movements.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 400
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've noticed that when an unexpected hazard appears with little time to react, I really do have a tendancy to aim right for it. It takes a conscious effort to steer around.
#18
8speed DinoSORAs
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oxford, UK or Mountain View, Ca
Posts: 2,749
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh yes. I have definitely done this. The problem is often that there is too little time to recognise the hazard, react (safely) and then fix on a new course.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.
Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.
#19
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Kinda makes you wonder if you really want to be conspicuous to drivers... after all if they are fixing on you... what might be the result?
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NOWHERE
Posts: 612
Bikes: noyb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride a motorcycle as well and agree that target fixation is very real.
I use this explanation: The idea that your motorcycle will go where you're looking is merely phenomenon that virtually all drivers (of any kind of vehicle) have experienced before: that if you turn your head you tend to STEER in the direction you're looking. In fact, it might be clearer to simply acknowledge that it is almost impossible to steer in any direction other than the one you are looking at. ALL of your prior experience has taught you how to steer your vehicle where you want it to go. So, if you look where you want to go, you kick in all that prior experience and AUTOMATICALLY steer in that direction. There is no magic here nor is there a hidden law of physics involved. Your bike (or automobile) TENDS to go in the direction you are looking because, via experience, you have taught yourself to steer, more or less subconsciously.
To take advantage of that phenomenon you merely need to actively look in the direction you want to go - away from danger. The rest is virtually subconscious reaction. Of course it takes more than a turn of your eyes or even your head. You still need to steer away from danger. Since it is HARD to steer away from what you're looking at, and easy (almost automatic) to steer in the direction you are looking, surely it makes sense to look where you want to go.
Regarding the "I didn't see him" argument - may be partly due to target fixation in which the driver is fixating on the upcoming intersection, rather than other vehicles around him/her, distraction, or this phenomena described in this article. I think it applies very easily to bicyclists as well, and I'm very, very aware of potential encounters with oncoming traffic on both my moto and bike as a result.
https://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16127340. Drivers adopt smaller safety margins when pulling out in front of motorcycles compared with cars. This could partly account for why the most common motorcycle/car accident involves a car violating a motorcyclist's right of way. One possible explanation is the size-arrival effect in which smaller objects are perceived to arrive later than larger objects. That is, drivers may estimate the time to arrival of motorcycles to be later than cars because motorcycles are smaller. METHODS: We investigated arrival time judgments using a temporal occlusion paradigm. Drivers recruited from the student population (n = 28 and n = 33) saw video footage of oncoming vehicles and had to press a response button when they judged that vehicles would reach them. RESULTS: In experiment 1, the time to arrival of motorcycles was estimated to be significantly later than larger vehicles (a car and a van) for different approach speeds and viewing times. In experiment 2, we investigated an alternative explanation to the size-arrival effect: that the smaller size of motorcycles places them below the threshold needed for observers to make an accurate time to arrival judgment using tau. We found that the motorcycle/car difference in arrival time estimates was maintained for very short occlusion durations when tau could be estimated for both motorcycles and cars. CONCLUSIONS: Results are consistent with the size-arrival effect and are inconsistent with the tau threshold explanation. Drivers estimate motorcycles will reach them later than cars across a range of conditions. This could have safety implications.
I use this explanation: The idea that your motorcycle will go where you're looking is merely phenomenon that virtually all drivers (of any kind of vehicle) have experienced before: that if you turn your head you tend to STEER in the direction you're looking. In fact, it might be clearer to simply acknowledge that it is almost impossible to steer in any direction other than the one you are looking at. ALL of your prior experience has taught you how to steer your vehicle where you want it to go. So, if you look where you want to go, you kick in all that prior experience and AUTOMATICALLY steer in that direction. There is no magic here nor is there a hidden law of physics involved. Your bike (or automobile) TENDS to go in the direction you are looking because, via experience, you have taught yourself to steer, more or less subconsciously.
To take advantage of that phenomenon you merely need to actively look in the direction you want to go - away from danger. The rest is virtually subconscious reaction. Of course it takes more than a turn of your eyes or even your head. You still need to steer away from danger. Since it is HARD to steer away from what you're looking at, and easy (almost automatic) to steer in the direction you are looking, surely it makes sense to look where you want to go.
Regarding the "I didn't see him" argument - may be partly due to target fixation in which the driver is fixating on the upcoming intersection, rather than other vehicles around him/her, distraction, or this phenomena described in this article. I think it applies very easily to bicyclists as well, and I'm very, very aware of potential encounters with oncoming traffic on both my moto and bike as a result.
https://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16127340. Drivers adopt smaller safety margins when pulling out in front of motorcycles compared with cars. This could partly account for why the most common motorcycle/car accident involves a car violating a motorcyclist's right of way. One possible explanation is the size-arrival effect in which smaller objects are perceived to arrive later than larger objects. That is, drivers may estimate the time to arrival of motorcycles to be later than cars because motorcycles are smaller. METHODS: We investigated arrival time judgments using a temporal occlusion paradigm. Drivers recruited from the student population (n = 28 and n = 33) saw video footage of oncoming vehicles and had to press a response button when they judged that vehicles would reach them. RESULTS: In experiment 1, the time to arrival of motorcycles was estimated to be significantly later than larger vehicles (a car and a van) for different approach speeds and viewing times. In experiment 2, we investigated an alternative explanation to the size-arrival effect: that the smaller size of motorcycles places them below the threshold needed for observers to make an accurate time to arrival judgment using tau. We found that the motorcycle/car difference in arrival time estimates was maintained for very short occlusion durations when tau could be estimated for both motorcycles and cars. CONCLUSIONS: Results are consistent with the size-arrival effect and are inconsistent with the tau threshold explanation. Drivers estimate motorcycles will reach them later than cars across a range of conditions. This could have safety implications.
#21
crazy bike girl
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: CA Central Coast
Posts: 3,325
Bikes: '07 Orbea Onix, '07 Birdy Yellow, '06 Cannondale Bad Boy (stolen)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Avoiding target fixation is something you can easily practice while driving - look through the corners, down the road, where you want to go. It can only benefit your driving, bicycling, and/or motorcycling.
#22
crazy bike girl
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: CA Central Coast
Posts: 3,325
Bikes: '07 Orbea Onix, '07 Birdy Yellow, '06 Cannondale Bad Boy (stolen)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Regarding the "I didn't see him" argument - may be partly due to target fixation in which the driver is fixating on the upcoming intersection, rather than other vehicles around him/her, distraction, or this phenomena described in this article. I think it applies very easily to bicyclists as well, and I'm very, very aware of potential encounters with oncoming traffic on both my moto and bike as a result.
#23
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
I have an honest question about this phenomena. Today while riding my bicycle, a dog started to enter the street in front of me on my right. I shouted him back and he slowly turned around while I continued straight. My eyes stayed on him almost the entire time, as I wanted to make sure I knew exactly where he was, and see what he was going to do. Why didn't I steer towards him or even hit him?
#24
Senior Member
iltb-2, I said nothing about swerving. Regarding moving within the lane, perhaps you should consider a motorcycle safety course, or at least reading the material; most of the principles apply to bicycling.
__________________
Have Colt, will travel...
Have Colt, will travel...
Last edited by Rex G; 01-29-08 at 07:38 PM.
#25
Senior Member
I don't think target fixation is nearly as much of a factor with oncoming traffic from the opposite disrection, but a shift in lane position is a way to make yourself more visible to them, when you WANT to be seen. Have you ever maneuvered in such a manner as to make your headlight beam move across the visual field of a driver about to turn left across your path? No, not some silly swerving maneuver, but something like a shift from what would be a four-wheel vehicle's right wheel track position to left wheel track position, and back again. Nothing drastic, just a subtle shift, as if simply avoiding a rough spot on the pavement. It makes a cyclist, motorized or not, more visible. This is really quite basic, not some arcane off-the-wall stuff. I apologize for drifting away from the subject of target fixation, but I do not know how to cut and paste a quote from one thread and move it to another, and iltb-2 posed the question here.
__________________
Have Colt, will travel...
Have Colt, will travel...