Target fixation: Can it be avoided?

[MarkH]

I use target fixation to my advantage, when i realise i am fixating I think "wrong target" and fixate on a better target like my way out.

I think this is the obvious solution - look for an exit route and fixate on that, do everything you can to focus on that gap and make it through. Look to the gap, not the objects on either side of the gap!

[quickbuck]

I think this is the obvious solution - look for an exit route and fixate on that, do everything you can to focus on that gap and make it through. Look to the gap, not the objects on either side of the gap!

Aha, I agree....
I was thinking about this thread on my way home today.
See, I have been riding so long that many things are done subconsciously, so I have to think about what I'm doing to analyse what I'm doing....

Anyhow, I noticed as I ride along the road following traffic, I never actually look at the back of the car/ truck/ motorcycle in front of me at all.
I always look around them. The vehicle is kept in my peripheral vision.

Two reasons I don't look at the back of vehicles:
Firstly is because I'm always looking for a way past.
Secondly so I never actually target fixate on the back of the vehicle in front.

The consequence of this is that I'm always looking at the escape route.

Can I see brake lights in my peripheral vision?
Well, Yes, Can't tell truly if they are red lights coming on... but any light coming on at the rear of a vehicle is enough for me to take action.

[mujambee]

Anyhow, I noticed as I ride along the road following traffic, I never actually look at the back of the car/ truck/ motorcycle in front of me at all.
I always look around them. The vehicle is kept in my peripheral vision.

I tend to look at their mirrors. If I can see their face, they can see mine.

[dpex]

Way back during early 1995, World Gliding Championships (which a NZ pilot won, may I add) I heard a polish pilot radio-call 'Kilo Delta Tango' 10K.

That meant the pilot was 10K's away from the finish line and at an altitude which would allow him to push forward on the stick to bring the glider up to full noise....In his case, in that plane, about 140 Knots before the wings started to shudder, prior to snapping off. AKA VNE. Velocity Not Exceeded.

This rooster clearly got a bad dose of tartget-fixation because he kept the nose down, at 140+ knots all the way into the river which sweeps across at right-angles to the airfiled. Yup. He stuck it in the river at 140 Knots and walked away to tell the tale which went, more or less: 'I don't know why I didn't pull up to miss the river.'

Yet another $350-something K aircraft was destroyed.

The key to the second part of this story is the "I don't know,' bit.

This afternoon I was tooling along, following, what turned out to be a Chinese lad, on a 90cc scooter. He was bent down low, giving it death at 55Kph.

For reasons neither he nor I could ascertain; instead of pootling around the large round-about ahead, he simply went straight at it.

That the cage coming from his right missed him is yet another wonder, yet he did.

And so Chong Ho, for that was his name, hit the round-about edging. The front wheel rose into the air, the back wheel (now floating in free space) floated under, and Chong Ho ended up landing right smack in the middle of a pristine flower-bed, clutching his scooter betwixt his legs, looking for all the world like a Nun who had just found out the truth about Father O'Clarity.

Zero damage to both scooter and scootee. Major damage to the flower-bed.

The cop, about four cars behind, pulled up, as did I. We rushed over to find Chong Ho unhurt. The cop asked, 'What happened?'

Chong Ho just looked rather startled and replied, 'I'a donna know.' Then looked left and right and said, 'Vera bufital flowers.'

I reckon it was target fixation and made a mental note that I really have to do something about concealing my extremely delicious touchee before some lunatic gets fixated on it and.....Well, the 'ands' are endless.

[Weta]

classic story imagine if Chong Ho wad a few more HP between his thighs he may have cleared the roundabout completely and enjoyed the view more in the stye of aforementioned glider pilot.

[mujambee]

Poor Chonh Ho, his oriental love for beauty could have easily got him killed.

Anyhow, a good lesson to be learned there: forget about the sights, keep your attention where it belongs.


P.D.: Joking in the knowledge that only damage was to pride and flowers. Had a good lough recreating that 'Vera butifal flowers'.