When riding a motorcycle, you tend to go in the direction you are looking, and if you fix your vision on a particular target, you will find yourself heading right at it. This is what is known as target fixation and it can get you hurt.
A good example is found in the form of a simple pothole. Pretend that you're riding down the road and you notice a pothole up ahead. If you keep your eyes on the pothole, chances are very good that you will end up riding your motorcycle right into it instead of avoiding it. And there is a reason this happens. When you fix your sights on an object, your body instinctively aligns itself with the direction you are looking, even though you may not be aware of it. And when you're riding a motorcycle, every move of your body makes a difference. Just a little pressure on one handgrip or the other can finely steer your motorcycle in the direction you are looking.
Now that you understand how target fixation works, you can use it to your advantage to be a safer rider and avoid oncoming trouble. Let's use our pothole example once again. Instead of keeping your focus on that pothole, adjust your focus to where you think you should be on the road to avoid that pothole and your motorcycle will follow your line of sight. In this way, you can avoid hitting the pothole and place yourself in a safer position.
Understanding the theory of target fixation and turning it to your advantage can help you become a safer motorcycle rider.
