the degree of the curvature of the road has fuck all to do with it. target fixation can happen anywhere. of course there is a lack of competence (having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully). he's a new rider. he did not have the experience, knowledge or skill to realize what's happening and take corrective action... as experienced riders, we know what to do in these kinds of situations. we know that you look where you want to go, and we know that if you start going where you dont want to, how to take corrective action. we don't start to panic over it, and if we do, we have the knowledge and skills to overcome the panic. new riders may not. we know that you look where you want to go. it sounds so simple, but honestly, for a new rider in a panic situation it becomes perhaps the most difficult thing to do. a new rider doesnt want to go into the wall, so he looks at it to make sure he doesn't go there (inexperience). then he starts going that direction, which causes him to panic, because he's going right where he doesn't want to. the natural response to panic is to fixate on the immediate hazard. so he's still heading the wrong way, which makes him panic more, which makes him fixate more and so on... panic impairs perception and judgement. so much so, that he ends up going straight into the guard rail instead of negotiating the slight curve.