The Dangerous Consequences of High-Speed Riding

Riding at high-speeds can be thrilling but it is extremely dangerous. Here a KTM RC200 rider taking a corner at high-speed, fails and crashes into the field. Here is what happened.

The video first shows the crash site. Then there is a clip of exactly how the rider crashed into the fields. The footage from the helmet-mounted camera of the rider shows him takin the corner at a really high-speed. However, the bike understeers and then the rider fixates upon a spot and keeps on riding straight into it.

There was a pillion rider as well, which is why the rider must have misjudged the weight of the bike. Heavier weight on bikes need a different manoeuvre than the light weights. The rider also froze in the moment and kept on going towards one direction without trying to change direction and avoid the crash. None of the riders got any severe injuries. They got treatment at a nearby hospital.

The ride misjudged the corner and carried too much speed. After the bike was upright, the rider fixated on a target and continued riding towards it until the crash.

What is target fixation?

This phenomena is called target fixation and it is quite common. During World War II, fighter pilots faced a curious problem known as “target fixation.” These pilots got so intensely focused on their bombing targets that they sometimes ended up flying straight into them. But here’s the twist – this fixation isn’t limited to airplanes; it happens to drivers of cars and motorcycles too.

When drivers see something as distracting or dangerous, they get overly fixated on avoiding it. This intense focus might lead them right into the very thing they’re trying to steer clear of or other hidden dangers. In moments of panic, riders might get stuck staring at one thing, and their vehicle just follows their gaze, almost automatically.

Though this can happen to any driver, it seems to happen more with motorcyclists. Probably because riding a motorcycle involves the whole body in steering. In contrast, driving a car mostly relies on hands for steering and feet for pedals.

Target fixation is more common among motorcyclists because even small movements by the rider can easily affect the motorcycle’s direction. Put simply, it’s easier for a motorcyclist to unconsciously steer towards an object than it is for a car driver.

But target fixation can still happen in cars. While cars are less responsive to body movements, drivers sometimes fixate on the car right in front of them. This kind of focus can make them unaware that the car ahead has changed speed, leading to potential accidents. The phenomena especially happens in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Even while cruising at high-speeds, you can get fixated to a target unintentionally.

The solution is simple: Don’t concentrate on where you don’t want to go. Many accidents could have been avoided if the drivers hadn’t fixated on them.