Contrasting Driver Behavior during Turns and Straight Driving

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Abstract
In automobile-motorcycle collisions, one particular configuration clearly stands out above all others This dominant case sees the automobile driver turn left across the right-of-way of the on-coming motorcyclist. Our attempts to understand this particular accident have focused upon the actions of the driver. In the results of the experiment reported here, it is clear that turning involves a higher probability of structural interference to visual information processing and increase in mental load compared to straight driving. These effects are implicated in increased detection failure. The outcome of detection failure is radically different for left versus right-turns. In the former case, a turn is made across the face of oncoming traffic compared to the latter, more benign condition where no traffic conflict is liable to be experienced. The implications of these findings for enhancing motorcycle conspicuity are examined.
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