Gareth wrote:Horse wrote:That's why I posted an exerpt from the abstract . . .
My point is that while the exact detail of why it happens may not be fully understood, it is well understood that drivers tend to steer towards where they are looking. While investigating it further may be of passing interest we (all) already know the tendency against which we must guard.
For me it's more than a passing interest, as I'm involved with road safety research, often dealing with conspicuity issues.
There are a number of issues involved, one of which - phototaxis (IIRC) - involves the theory that people will steer not just where they're looking but also be 'drawn' to bright lights, so it's also known as 'the moth effect'. Put that into the context of brightly-lit emergency vehicles . . . However, it's also strongly debated and - again, IIRC - 'unproven', though it may affect particularly people who are tired or under the influence of 'bottled medication'
There's several more aspect to it, in no particular order:
Expectation; what is the driver expecting to see?
Understanding; once they've seen and recognised something, do they know what to do - or what they're expected to do?
Red advancing blue receding; doesn't affect everyone, but at night some people see blue light as 'closer' than a red light at the same distance
Looming; http://www.theiacp.org/LinkClick.aspx?f ... &tabid=392 Page 12
But it's no secret that highly conspicuous vehicles get hit:
http://blutube.policeone.com/Media/6189 ... way-crash/