In truck
driving, drivers are told to look ahead for an escape route in case of trouble.
Many truck drivers are focused on the bumper of the car ahead of them. They do
not look beyond that car to plot an escape route in case of a sudden stop.
They are not
looking where they want to go. Motorcycle riding has the same perils, with no
actual protection, save for the body armor inside your protective clothing.
Where
protective clothing comes in is when you wear Motorcycle
Armor Leather Jackets to stay safe if things go wrong. When you look at the car in front
of you or the car coming at you, human nature seems to make you drive right
toward the obstacle.
Look where
you want to go means looking ahead of your position down the road to see if it
is clear.
The Big
Picture
Focusing on
the “Big Picture” is what will save your skin. The big picture means you are
aware of what is going on in front, to the right or left, and in your rearview
mirror.
Scanning the
road 10-12 seconds ahead of where you are will help you be aware of road
conditions ahead. Sometimes things happen down the road that may become an
issue had you not seen them beforehand.
Object
Fixation
There is a
phenomenon that occurs when a driver, motorcycle, or car becomes so focused on
an object they run into it. It’s called Target Fixation.
Result of
target fixation?
This occurs
when vehicles are driving passed traffic accidents or when the police have a
car pulled over to the shoulder. Drivers are so fixated that they stare at the
activity so intently they run into it.
This
phenomenon has become such a problem the Utah Highway
Patrol released a video to get drivers to move over and slow down.
Warning: If you click
the link above, this video will scare the living daylights out of you. Another
term for “look where you want to go” is called “defensive driving.”
If you want
the lady riders to fixate on, you are seen wearing Men
Motorcycle Mesh Pants. Be aware of your surroundings to know what is going on in front of
you. You don’t want to come around a corner or crest a hill and find the road
blocked with an accident.
Looking where
you want to go takes concentration as you are overriding human nature, the
habit of staring at an object instead of looking around it. You must train your
brain to look around the obstruction to find a safe way around it.
Last Look
Look where
you want to go should become second nature to you while navigating your
motorcycle down the road. Look where you want to go can be applied to your life
goals, as well.
Look past the
obstacles that are blocking your progress and move forward around them. Focus
on your goals and successes, not your failers and losses, and success is
attainable.
