Why Drivers Hit Cyclists They Clearly See (I'm a Lawyer)

A driver looks right at a cyclist on a clear, sunny day, and still drifts into them. How does that happen? Part of the answer is a human-factors problem most drivers have never been trained on: target fixation. In this video, I break down how your hands tend to follow your eyes, why "I saw the cyclist" is not the same as safely avoiding one, and the one habit that helps prevent the crash, whether you are behind the wheel or on two wheels. I also explain why, in much of this country, cyclists are legally allowed to take the lane, and why that law makes more sense once you understand the problem. By the end, you will have a single shift in how you use your eyes, your steering, and the road position that can keep you out of a crash. I'm George Palaidis, a Florida lawyer and cycling advocate. 00:00 Why drivers drift into cyclists 00:45 Target fixation explained 01:44 When seeing isn't avoiding 03:03 A lawyer's view on negligence 03:43 The habit that prevents crashes 04:42 Why cyclists can take the lane 06:59 Key takeaways By the most defensible count, 32 states, including Florida, have an explicit "substandard-width lane" exception that allows a cyclist to leave the far-right edge when a lane is too narrow for a bike and a car to travel side by side safely. The exact wording varies by state, and some other states reach a similar result through broader rules, so check your own state's law. Ride visible. Ride predictable. And stay safe out there. Subscribe / @palaidislaw Palaidis Law, PA Fort Lauderdale, FL call: 954-828-0848 email: [email protected] DISCLAIMER This is not legal advice. I am not your lawyer. All content provided is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Nothing here should be construed to form an attorney-client relationship. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).