I've also noticed the blind spot phenomenon amongst pedestrians in a particular setting. Many times, when I see a fairly unassertive ped waiting to cross at a zebra, and traffic just carrying on regardless, I do the decent thing: drift a little more into the centre of my lane and slow down to a stop, therefore stopping any traffic in the lane behind me as well.
Sometimes, if it's a couple of lanes in each direction, it takes a little while longer for traffic in the other lane to follow my lead and stop as well. Usually, when this eventually happens, the ped starts to cross the zebra, whilst staring right through me, and giving hand signals/head nods to thank any car drivers involved.
This bugs me immensely, as I immediately start considering the fact that the ped probably 'notices' cyclists the minute they commit a minor misdemeanour ie. the ped is prejudiced, and only attends to behaviours that reinforce their mental set.
This brings us back to sensory phenomena like the blind spot. It's physiological, but very susceptible to psycho-sensory interference from idiosyncracies of perception/attention. So although certain lorry drivers don't physically see you, there's also a strong possibility of them not wanting to see you either.
I've also noticed the blind spot phenomenon amongst pedestrians in a particular setting. Many times, when I see a fairly unassertive ped waiting to cross at a zebra, and traffic just carrying on regardless, I do the decent thing: drift a little more into the centre of my lane and slow down to a stop, therefore stopping any traffic in the lane behind me as well.
Sometimes, if it's a couple of lanes in each direction, it takes a little while longer for traffic in the other lane to follow my lead and stop as well. Usually, when this eventually happens, the ped starts to cross the zebra, whilst staring right through me, and giving hand signals/head nods to thank any car drivers involved.
This bugs me immensely, as I immediately start considering the fact that the ped probably 'notices' cyclists the minute they commit a minor misdemeanour ie. the ped is prejudiced, and only attends to behaviours that reinforce their mental set.
This brings us back to sensory phenomena like the blind spot. It's physiological, but very susceptible to psycho-sensory interference from idiosyncracies of perception/attention. So although certain lorry drivers don't physically see you, there's also a strong possibility of them not wanting to see you either.