What is “Inattention Blindness” and Can It Be Dangerous?
This is a very good question and one that is extremely relevant to everyone’s safety on the road in this day and age!
Inattention blindness is a term coined by two researchers in the 90’s that is used to describe the phenomena when people do not see objects that are right in front of them, in plain sight, their mind is unable to register them. It is sometimes called perceptual blindness. It has been proven by many studies that humans only have a limited capacity to pay attention to all details in their visual field when their mind is focused on something else; even when they think they are fully paying attention to the details. Please see the below links for some examples. You may be surprised to know that illusionists have taken advantage of this human characteristic for many years.
Yes, inattention blindness can be dangerous for pedestrians, bikers, cyclists, and drivers alike, especially when everyday 21st century gadgets such as cell phones, MP3 players, etc, are involved. These distractions preoccupy people’s minds and they mentally cannot register what they see. Many do not realize how much easier they can wander off course if distracted-whether on the road, in a bike lane, or on a sidewalk.
As a personal injury attorney, my suggestion is, if you are going to multitask, avoid doing it while driving or while walking on a busy street. Do not put yourself nor another driver or pedestrian at risk! That “gorilla on the court” could be an important piece of information required for everyone on or near the road to get home safely.
For more information:
- Gorilla in Court
- Test Your Awareness: Do The Test
- Driving Distractions 101
- Walking + Distracted Gadgets Don’t Mix
I am local accident attorney Jeffrey Meldon and I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of and/or recovery from a serious accident. My office and I take pride in our work, and the results we get for our clients.
Meldon Law is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury attorneys, litigators and trial attorneys that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 40 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, motorcycle, ATVs, bicycle, pedestrian accidents, and dog bites, slip and falls, medical malpractice, and criminal defense are all included in our practice.
For more information on how we can help you, or with any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 800-373-8000.
