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New Guidelines For Motorcyclists & Lane Splitting
When motorcyclists pass a vehicle, or vehicles, while riding between these vehicles along the lane line, this is known as lane splitting. Filtering or filtering forward describes moving through traffic that is stopped completely. Lane splitting is legal in California under specific conditions, provided it is done safely and in accordance with state guidelines. The maneuver can create hazards if not performed safely, and all riders should exercise extreme caution.
There is a significant misconception that motorcyclists who lane split are doing something illegal. According to California Highway Patrol Sergeant Larry Starkey, who runs the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, lane splitting or lane sharing is a practice that has never been prohibited by the law in California.
Lane Splitting Has Long Been An Accepted Practice
The lack of available data on lane splitting is one of the biggest problems associated with this practice. A 2015 study by UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research & Education Center found that 17% of approximately 6,000 motorcyclists who crashed between June 2012 and August 2013 were engaged in lane splitting when they collided with another vehicle.
The study concluded that lane splitting appears to be a relatively safe strategy for motorcycle riding, provided it is done in traffic moving at speeds of 50 mph or less, and if the motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of the other vehicles by more than 15 mph.
There Is Very Little Data To Show The Safety Of This Practice
A 2014 study provided data indicating that only 60.7 percent of drivers in California were aware that it was legal for motorcyclists to lane split. Motorcyclists who lane split are still required to follow and obey the speed limit in the area and comply with all other road rules. These limits aim to reduce the risk of speeding-related accidents.
If they do not split lanes responsibly, they can be ticketed.
California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, enacted in 2016, made California the first state in the nation to formally legalize lane splitting. This law would add several guidelines for safety for both motorists and riders.
This bill would authorize the California Highway Patrol to develop guidelines related to lane splitting that promote the safety of passengers, drivers, and motorcyclists, as specified. The bill will also require the department to talk with specific organizations and agencies that have an interest in motorcyclist behavior and road safety when developing these guidelines.
California has experienced concerning levels of motorcycle fatalities in recent years, with hundreds of deaths occurring annually. With this frequency, it may be helpful for victims to understand their rights. Motorcycle accident lawyers can evaluate their cases and determine their possible options.
California’s DMV General Guidelines For Lane Splitting
Other objections from one petitioner are that no formal rulemaking process was used for the guidelines, according to the Office of Administrative Law. There was a discussion of the issue by the CHP, along with the Office of Administrative Law, and they decided not to use, enforce, or issue guidelines; subsequently, they removed them from their website.
The primary goal of the guidelines was to provide common-sense information for traffic safety. California law now formally allows and regulates lane splitting under specific conditions.
It is also strongly encouraged by the California Highway Patrol that all motorcyclists sign up for the program, which is administered by the CHP as the official motorcycle training and safety program for California, the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Such initiatives help prevent the risk of traffic accidents.
California Motorcycle-Involved Statistics
In early 2013, the CHP, the California Highway Patrol, announced new lane-splitting guidelines on its website. The list of available safety tips on this site is more specific than general, and it provides the technical definition of lane splitting before delving into the best practices for lane splitting.
The MSP, or Motorcycle Safety Program Unit, within the California Highway Patrol, has been tasked with participating in and co-leading a dedicated area. This MSP Unit is currently collaborating with its partners, which include the stakeholders of traffic safety, the California Department of Transportation, OTS, or the Office of Traffic Safety, and the Department of Motor Vehicles, to develop action items.
The data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System indicate that fatalities involving motorcyclists in the state of California are a significant safety concern. These increases in deaths related to motorcycle accidents have occurred during a time when other areas of traffic safety have experienced substantial gains. The overall number of traffic-related deaths in California has seen motorcyclists overrepresented.
Tips For Motorcycle ‘Lane-Splitting’ The Safe Way
Lane Splitting can be potentially dangerous, and you should exercise extreme caution when participating in this activity. This is not a task that should be performed by a rider who is not experienced. The risk of a severe injury or death in a lane-splitting collision rises when speed and speed differential are increased. To assist you in practicing lane splitting, the general safety tips below are available to guide you; however, they cannot guarantee your safety. Each rider is ultimately responsible for their safety and decision-making.
The Following Are Tips To Assist Riders When Lane Splitting
- The danger is increased with overall speed increases.
- Avoid lane splitting when next to larger vehicles, such as big rigs, motorhomes, buses, etc.
- The danger is increased with higher speed differentials.
- You should consider the complete environment when lane splitting, which includes the lane’s width, the size of the vehicles surrounding you, the current roadway, lighting conditions, and the weather.
- It is not considered lane splitting if you are riding on the shoulder, and doing so is illegal.
- Be sure to stay visible. Stay out of the blind spots of other drivers and avoid lingering between vehicles.
- Wearing bright-colored or reflective clothing and using high beams can help drivers spot you.
Lane splitting, as defined by the California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, is driving a motorcycle in between rows of moving or stopped vehicles in the same lane, including on undivided and divided highways, roads, or streets.
California law does not prohibit motorcyclists from lane splitting, and it is illegal for another driver to impede or intentionally block a motorcyclist in a manner that could cause harm to the rider. It is also unlawful for a driver to open the door of a vehicle to impede a motorcyclist. A driver who is in the far left lane should move to the left of their lane to give a motorcyclist ample room to pass them. A motorcycle accident lawyer can use this statute to support the claim of a victim.
Helmet Laws For Motorcyclists In California
There have been repeated attempts to repeal the motorcycle helmet law in California, with the goal of substituting it with a lesser version. This lesser version would require those under the age of 18 to wear a helmet that complies with the United States Department of Transportation standards; however, these repeals have failed so far in the state legislature.
Adult riders have been advocating for the repeal of this helmet law, despite statistical information that supports it. This law came into effect on January 1, 1992. The advocates of repeal have contended that this should be a matter of individual choice, allowing people to decide whether to wear a helmet or not, and that it should be a personal right to determine whether to take that risk. The idea that motorcyclists over the age of 21 should not be affected by the helmet law’s requirements overlooks the other factors that led to the implementation of the helmet law in the first place. In 1987, before the law was passed, 77 percent of motorcyclist fatalities involved victims over the age of 21, with 69 percent of those injured being over the age of 21, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Safety Tips For All Motorists
You can keep both yourself and other road users safe through your actions. Some ways you can do so are:
- Sharing the road and being courteous.
- Anticipating other motorists’ possible movements and staying alert while driving.
- You are never driving while impaired by fatigue, alcohol, or drugs.
- You are checking your blind spots and mirrors, especially when you are about to switch lanes or turn.
- You are ensuring that you signal your intention before switching lanes or merging with traffic.
It is a shared responsibility for all motorcyclists and drivers alike to create a safe highway environment. This secure environment can be achieved by using courtesy and common sense while driving on the road and by staying alert at all times. Motorcyclists also have the essential task of minimizing the risks they take by always wearing their protective gear, such as a helmet, not riding under the influence of any intoxicant, and remaining responsible when riding.
Four Important Reminders To Help Keep Motorcyclists Safe While Riding
- Always assume people in cars do not see you.
- It is highly likely that a collision of a motorcycle will cause death or injury.
- Stay out of blind spots of vehicles, particularly the larger trucks.
- Pay attention to your speed.
California Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your legal rights. Our motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help you understand your options, protect your interests, and guide you through the claims process. To schedule a confidential, no-cost, and no-obligation consultation, call us at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form.
If you’ve been caught in a motorcycle or car accident in California, our team of injury lawyers can assist you from our offices in Sherman Oaks, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or can go to you personally anywhere in the state. Regardless of where you are, we’ll happily come to you for your case!
