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Crash Course - The SMIDSY

lbtv

494 subscribers • 1 video on Rounds

YouTube
  • Recommended by 3 people, in Hacker News, across 4 different months.

For anyone, no background needed. Education, not medical advice.

288K views17 years ago3 recommendations

Brain and nervesPublic health and policyNeuroscience

How optical illusions and visual perception limitations cause drivers to fail to see motorcyclists, leading to common road accidents.

The SMIDSY, a pilot episode in a mini series of Motorcycle Safety videos. This accident is easily avoidable, in order to understand why they occur, riders need to be trained to spot tell-tale signs and know how to deal with these situations. The producers are now seeking external funding to produce further videos for web TV and broadcast. For more info email crashcourse@lbtv.co.uk

Why it's here

3 people recommend this

What people say. Recommended for its excellent explanation of the perception psychology behind why drivers fail to see motorcycles.

imglorpin Hacker News • Recommends

On “A Type of Road Junction that Kills Cyclists”

This is also of high interest to motorcyclists who even have a name for the phenomena: SMIDSY (Sorry, Mate I Didn't See You). OP was focused on the A pillar and some other effects, while this excellent video goes a little further into some perception psychology about camouflage and how we perceive moving objects across backgrounds. You can ignore the motorcycle stuff but the explanation is enlightening. link to this video
View on Hacker News

imglorpin Hacker News • Recommends

On “Lethal memory fail: Why drivers see, and then forget motorcyclists”

There's a second factor at work beyond memory - it's the human visual perceptive system. Bikes are not always moving across the visual field, and they aren't fitting the pattern of a bigger single-color smooth object so it's effectively camouflage. This is an outstanding vid on the whole subject illustrating the problem and some avoidance methods. This should be taught in rider training but it's not (US). link to this video
View on Hacker News

kingaillasin Hacker News • Recommends

On “Airline pilots landing at LAX report “a guy in jetpack” flying alongside them”

>it's always "Sorry mate I didn't see you". Ah, the SMIDSY: link to this video That video covers the optical illusion that leads to it and what motorcycles can do.
View on Hacker News

IgorPartolain Hacker News • Recommends

On “A DIY E-bike Conversion on the Cheap”

Have you ever seen videos of how invisible you look despite all the high viz stuff? In some cases it becomes urban camo. Take a look at this video, especially at 2:30 or so. It’ll show you just how little visibility you’ll have: link to this video Your best bet is to have all your clothing match your bike, Power Rangers style, to increase your chances. And lots and lots of very bright lights. One little handlebar mounted light is going to look like a reflection or a flashlight.
View on Hacker News

imglorpin Hacker News • Mentions

On “Invisibility Training for Motorcyclists [video]”

Complimentary material about the SMIDSY problem (sorry, mate, I didn't see you) from someone else, including a visibility manoeuver f9 doesn't mention. link to this video
View on Hacker News