Lane-Splitting Motorcycle Accidents
Fatal freeway motorcycle accidents seem to inundate news broadcasts—especially during warm summer days. With motorists reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour and higher, the chances of a motorcyclist getting caught up in the mix are high.
Slow moving traffic jams propel motorcyclists to lane split—generally between freeway lanes 1 and 2—which increase the chances for lane splitting motorcycle accidents. Lane splitting is a situation in which a motorcycle, scooter (such as a Vespa), or another vehicle with two wheels maneuvers between cars in two separate lanes—legally between lanes number 1 and number2 on the freeway—or on city streets. Cars driving in Lane 1 and Lane 2 create a narrow passageway in between them just big enough for a motorcyclist to fit in between. Lane splitting is also known as white-lining, lane sharing, or filtering. For more information on lane-splitting, please click HERE.
California is the only state that condones lane splitting. A recent survey revealed that 78% of motorcyclists split lanes and nearly “two-thirds reported having a car try to block them” while doing so. The California Highway Patrol (CHP), which implies that lane-splitting is not illegal in California, has guidelines to lane splitting:
- 1) The motorcyclist is to drive no more than 10 miles per hour faster than the speed of traffic
- 2) The motorcyclist is not to lane split when the speed of traffic is 30 miles per hour or faster
- 3) The motorcyclist is to lane split Lane 1 and Lane 2
- 4) The motorcyclist is to take the environment and surroundings into consideration and determine whether lane splitting is a suitable idea
- 5) The motorcyclist is to stay alert and be aware of other drivers on the road
There are ways for automobilists to avoid accidentally cutting off a motorcyclist and causing a lane-splitting accident, which include:
- Checking all blind spots before changing lanes
- Never intentionally blocking a motorcyclist
- Always using signals when changing lanes, merging, or turning
- Never driving while distracted
The CHP has created “Share the Road” for motorcyclists to help reduce the number of fatal and nonfatal motorcycle accidents. The CHP clearly states that motorcyclists have the same rights as all other vehicles on the road, and the “Share the Road” campaign brings awareness to this fact. For more information on the CHP’s “Share the Road” campaign, please click HERE.
