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Use
the links on this page to test your skill and learn about what we see,
or think we see. Although
these illusions are optical images designed to play 'tricks' on what we
see, it is important, as road users, to understand that we can be fooled
by everyday objects or situations when driving.
Our eyes gather information which is then processed by the brain. During this process
that
information can become confused, lost or influenced by other thought
processes. Optical illusions produce
known results, for example they can appear to move when in fact they
don't. One of the most
common statements drivers make after colliding with a motorcycle is "I
just didn't see him" but the motorcyclist will say that he appeared to
have eye contact with the driver. The motorcyclist may have had his
headlight on and been wearing a high-vis jacket. So why does it happen?
Research suggests that we only see
what we are looking for. Our eyes and brains are incredible at
processing information but if we tell our brains only to look for cars,
vans or lorries when emerging from junctions, then that is what we see,
we don't see the motorcycle, pedal cycle or pedestrian. |
