The Moth Effect

The moth effect is a somewhat controversial theory about the cause of certain road accidents. It is named for the tendency of moths to be inexplicably drawn toward light even though it is detrimental to their health, often killing them when they get too close. Although commonly known as the moth effect, it can also be referred to as target fixation or fascination phenomenon. Certain researchers believe it is a substantial danger while others don't credit its existence at all.

Overview

• Researchers who propose the existence of the moth effect often blame it for roadside accidents where drivers collide with emergency vehicles or bicyclists. They believe that drivers are attracted to the flashing lights and accidentally drift toward the lights and hit the source of the light -- an emergency vehicle. The moth effect also affects pilots in cases when they feel drawn toward the lead plane, which is in front with flashing lights.

Cases

• Researchers from Illinois State University have studied the moth effect and looked for situations where lights affect a person's driving ability. They found that road side accidents are three times more likely to happen to a police car with flashing lights than with a unlit passenger vehicle. Researchers have also enacted trials where they instruct drivers to look at lights while driving; they observed that most drivers will drift toward their line of vision, in this case, the lights, at least momentarily.

Causes

• The moth effect generally happens at night when the lights are more intense. A study published in the psychology journal "Perception and Psychophysics" found that when drivers move their line of vision to the side, for example the roadside, their sense of "straight ahead" will alter slightly toward that side and they will begin to steer their car in that direction without being fully aware it. Illinois State University researchers found that most roadside accidents happen in good conditions and to unimpaired drivers, leaving human error or target fixation to be the primary cause.

Controversy

• Some people do not acknowledge the moth effect as a legitimate theory. Another possible explanation for roadside accidents, as explained in the book "Traffic," is that people simply assume that all other cars are traveling at the same speed as theirs and do not notice cars stopped on the roadside until an accident is unavoidable.