Why Drivers Hit Cyclists They Clearly See

The Bike Lawyer · Sep 24, 2026 · 8m

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 episode, 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…