Lane splitting

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Lane splitting is riding a bicycle or motorcycle between lanes in the same direction as traffic. It is also sometimes called lane sharing, whitelining, filtering, or stripe-riding. Lane splitting usually refers to moving at a greater speed than traffic, in response to a traffic slowdown, a form of filtering forward.

Lane splitting by motorcycles is generally legal in Europe, and in Japan and several other countries, and is illegal in the US except in California (see list below).

The legal restrictions on lane splitting for bicyclists can be the same, such as in California. In some jurisdictions, such as Nebraska, lane-splitting is prohibited specifically, and only, for motorcyclists .

Safety

Lane splitting is controversial in the US, and is sometimes an issue in other countries. Questions are debated as to whether or not it is legal, whether or not it should be legal, and whether or not it should be practiced regardless of legality. Bills to legalize lane splitting have been introduced in state legislatures around the US over the last twenty years but so far none have been enacted.

In Australia a furor erupted when the transport authorities decided to consolidate and clarify the disparate set of laws that collectively made lane splitting illegal. Because of the very opacity of the laws they were attempting to clarify, many Australians had actually believed that lane splitting was legal, and they had been practicing it as long as they had been riding. They interpreted the action as a move to change the law to make lane splitting illegal. Because of the volume of public comment opposed to this, the authorities decided to take no further action and so the situation remained as it was.

Relevant research

There is no safety research which has directly examined the question of lane splitting, in spite of the opportunity to compare similar populations of riders in the US who lane split in California but do not (legally) do so elsewhere. The European MAIDS report studied the causes of motorcycle accidents in four countries where it is legal and one where it is not, yet reached no conclusion as to whether it contributed to or prevented accidents.

Proponents of lane splitting state the Hurt Report of 1981 reached the conclusion that lane splitting improves motorcycle safety by reducing rear end crashes. Lane splitting supporters also state that the US DOT FARS database shows that rear end collisions into motorcycles are 30% lower in California than in Florida or Texas, states with similar riding seasons and populations but which do not lane split. No specifics are given about where this conclusion is found in the FARS system. The database is available online to the public. The NHSTA does say, based on the Hurt Report, that lane splitting "slightly reduces" rear-end accidents, and is worthy of further study due to the possible congestion reduction benefits.

Lane splitting is never mentioned anywhere in the Hurt Report, and all of the data was collected in California, so no comparison was made between of lane splitting vs. non-lane splitting. The Hurt Report ends with a list of 55 specific findings, such as "Fuel system leaks and spills are present in 62% of the motorcycle accidents in the post-crash phase. This represents an undue hazard for fire." None of these findings mentions lane splitting, or rear end collisions. The legislative and law enforcement advice that follows this list does not mention lane splitting or suggest laws be changed with regard to lane splitting.

In Europe, the MAIDS Report was conducted using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards in 1999–2000 and collected data on over 900 motorcycle accidents in five countries, along with non-accident exposure data (control cases) to measure the contribution of different factors to accidents, in the same way as the Hurt Report. Four of the five countries where data was collected allow lane splitting, while one does not, yet none of the conclusions contained in the MAIDS Final Report note any difference in rear-end accidents or accidents during lane splitting. It is notable that the pre-crash motion of the motorcycle or scooter was lane-splitting in only 0.4% of cases, in contrast to the more common accident situations such as "Moving in a straight line, constant speed" 49.1% and "Negotiating a bend, constant speed" 12.1%. The motorcyclist was stopped in traffic prior to 2.8% of the accidents.

Debate over safety and benefits

Proponents state that the practice relieves congestion by removing commuters from cars and gets them to use the unused roadway space between the cars.

In the US, transportation engineers have suggested that motorcycles are too few, and will remain too few, to justify any special accommodation or legislative consideration, such as lane splitting. Unless it becomes likely that very large number of Americans will switch to motorcycles, they will offer no measurable congestion relief even with lane splitting. Rather, laws and infrastructure should merely incorporate motorcycles into normal traffic with minimal disruption and risk to riders.

Potentially, lane splitting can lead to road rage on the part of drivers. However, the Hurt Report indicates that, "Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause."

Lane splitting is not recommended for beginning motorcyclists, and riders who do not practice it in their home area are strongly cautioned that it can be risky if they attempt it when traveling to a jurisdiction where it is allowed. Similarly, for drivers new to places where it is done, it can be shocking and frightening.

Another consideration is that lane splitting, even where legal, can possibly leave the rider legally responsible, as "Even in California, it is legal only if done safely. And 'safely' is always very much a judgment call. The mere fact that an accident happened while a rider was lane splitting is very strong evidence that on that occasion it wasn't safe to do so...If you've been involved in an accident you will have a hard job convincing an insurance adjuster that the accident was not completely your fault."

When the 2005 bill to legalize lane splitting in Washington State was defeated, a Washington State Patrol spokesman testified in opposition, saying that, "it would be difficult to set and enforce standards for appropriate speeds and conditions for lane splitting. And he said that officials with the California Highway Patrol told him that they wished they had never begun allowing the practice."

California's DMV handbook for motorcycles advises significant caution regarding lane splitting: "Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is not safe. Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can leave you vulnerable. A car could turn suddenly or change lanes, a door could open, or a hand could come out of a window. Discourage lane sharing by others."

The Oxford Systematics report commissioned by VicRoads, the traffic regulating authority in Victoria, Australia, found that for motorcycles filtering through stationary traffic "No examples have yet been located where such filtering has been the cause of an incident."

In the United Kingdom, Motorcycle ROADCRAFT, the police riding manual, is explicit about the advantages of filtering but also states that "The advantages of filtering along or between stopped or slow moving traffic have to be weighed against the disadvantages of increased vulnerability while filtering".

After discussing the pros and cons at great length, motorcycle safety guru David Hough ultimately argues that a rider, given the choice to legally lane split, is probably safer doing so, than to remain stationary in a traffic jam. However, Hough has not gone on record as favoring changing the law in jurisdictions where it is not permitted, in contrast to his public education and legislative efforts in favor of rider training courses and helmet use.

Legal status

A frequently asked question by motorcyclists is "Is lane splitting legal?" The legal confusion in Australia described above is not exceptional. Even in California, there is no specific law permitting lane splitting; rather, no law explicitly and clearly prohibits lane splitting, and significantly, it has become the traditional policy of law enforcement, the courts, and the public in California to tolerate it when it is done safely. However, those engaged in unsafe behavior, including unsafe lane splitting, can still be cited for violating certain sections of the vehicle code Other jurisdictions have similar or identical legal codes on the books, yet their authorities have, over time, interpreted the law as prohibiting lane splitting in all cases, even when done safely, and so riders are cited for it. Colorado and Nebraska are examples of jurisdictions where the law does explicitly prohibit lane splitting, while permitting motorcycles to ride two abreast, and making an exception for police officers..

Lane splitting is not prohibited in the following countries:

Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Croatia
Cyprus
Estonia
France
Greece
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
Norway
Oman
Portugal
Qatar
Spain
South Africa
Sweden
U.A.E.
United Kingdom
United States
- California has no laws explicitly prohibiting lane splitting, and is the only U.S. state for which official statements state that lane splitting, when done safely, is legal . However, California is not the only state for which there is no traffic law that explicitly prohibits lane splitting . Opinions differ as to whether safe lane splitting is ever legal in these other states.

References

^ MAIDS (Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study) Final Report 1.2 (PDF), ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, September 2004, p. 49, Table 5.7: PTW pre-crash motion prior to precipitating event Stopped in traffic, speed is zero 2.8% [...] Stripe-riding, filtering forward between lanes, longitudinal motion 0.1% Filtering forward between lanes, both longitudinal and lateral motion 0.3%
"Glossary", National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, US Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/Motorcycle Safety Foundation, retrieved 2009-04-29, Lane splitting: Passing between lanes of stopped or slower-moving vehicles on a motorcycle. Not permitted in most of the U.S., it is allowed in many other countries and may provide a safety benefit. Also called lane sharing.'
Define:Lane Splitting, Motorcycle Glossary.com, archived from the original on May 2, 2009 04:32:55 GMT, retrieved 2009-05-08, Lane Splitting: Riding between two lanes of traffic at a greater speed than the other vehicles. It is legal in California if it's done in a safe manner and it's also legal in many countries. However, it is illegal in most U.S. states, and there are times when this could be dangerous. {{citation}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
CVC 21200, Laws Applicable to Bicycle Use, California Department of Motor Vehicles, retrieved 2009-05-12, Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division
Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,308 Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic; prohibited acts., Nebraska Legislature, retrieved 2009-05-12, No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles
^ Hough, David L. (2000), Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (2nd ed.), USA: BowTie Press, p. 212, ISBN 1889540536, 9781889540535, Riding the white line between traffic lanes is a subject that motorcycle experts tend to avoid. First, white lining (lane splitting) in North America is acceptable only in a couple states, and is tolerated in and around a few congested cities. sharing lanes is commonplace in countries such as England, Italy and South Africa, but it's taboo here in most of the U.S. Second, riders who haven't experienced or observed skillful lane splitting typically have a built-in resistance to the subject, and any discussion seems to generate a pile of hate mail. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
How to live well without owning a car, Ten Speed Press, 2006, p. 108, ISBN 1580087574, 9781580087575, Some motorcyclists think lane sharing is dangerous; others say it is one of the safest ways to ride. This debate will certainly continue, but for now just know that lane sharing is definitely not a tactic for beginning riders. There are safe lane-sharing methods and unsafe ones, so it may be something to look into once you have a few years of experience, and only if it's legal in your state. {{citation}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); External link in |author-link= (help); Unknown parameter |ast= ignored (help)
^ "Bikers and auto drivers split on lane sharing: BAY AREA: Trend of riding between autos scares some, but motorcyclists say it's safe if everyone pays attention.", Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA, Many drivers who prefer four-wheeled transportation decry the practice as unsafe for motorcycle riders and vehicle passengers alike. ⁋ "It scares me when they come zooming up between lanes," said Liz Martin of El Cerrito. "You look in your mirror and go to change lanes and suddenly there's a motorcycle right there. I try to be cautious, but it just doesn't seem safe." {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |unused_data= (help); Text "Date: 19-JAN-07" ignored (help)
Washington HB3159, 2004
Washington HB1176, 2005
New Jersey Assembly Bill 1684 (Establishes task force to study lane splitting), 2008
Colorado Petition for ballot measure, 2007 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |url2= ignored (help)
Texas SB506, 2009
Australian Road Rules General Amendments and Regulatory Impact Statement 2005, NTC National Transport Commission Australia, November 2005, Rule 151A attempted to clarify the intent of several existing road rules, which prohibit the practice of motorcycle lane-splitting or lane-filtering. The proposed rule would more explicitly require motorcycles to move into an adjacent lane or line of traffic when overtaking other vehicles and pass at a safe distance. In excess of 800 submissions (excluding duplicated submissions) were received, which primarily oppose the recommendation. The NTC notes that there is a wide misperception among the motorcycling community that lane-splitting and/or lane-filtering is legal. Motorcycle riders still have a responsibility to comply with existing road rules (outlined below).
AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES AMENDMENT PACKAGE 2005 DRAFT REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT (PDF), NTC National Transport Commission Australia, November 2005, It is a common practice for motor bike riders to "split lanes", that is, overtake or pass another motor vehicle (except a motor bike) in the same lane as the other motor vehicle. Although rules 140 to 145 specifically deal with the many attributes of overtaking, none make the rider of a motor bike move into an adjacent lane to overtake another motor vehicle. This has resulted in a cult belief that splitting lanes (an inherently dangerous practice) is recognised as acceptable behaviour of motor bike riders.
"Bikers angry over lane-splitting ban plan", TheAge.com.au, The Age Company Ltd., January 11, 2006, Bikers have called on the National Transport Commission (NTC) not to implement a proposed ban on lane splitting by motorcyclists, saying it would increase congestion and accidents.
Road Rules ~ Lane Splitting, Biker Aware, 2006, archived from the original on 3 May 2009 11:46:16 GMT, retrieved 2009-05-08, "Lane Filtering" is still legal in all states of Australia although there are some technicalities that some police may book a biker for doing this. This may depend on the discretion of the policeman at the time {{citation}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
"Is sharing lanes more or less dangerous than sitting in traffic?", WhyBike?, 27 February 2007, retrieved 2007-09-01
^ United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Motorcycle Safety Foundation (2000), National agenda for motorcycle safety, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, There is evidence (Hurt, 1981) that traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic. Although lane splitting is allowed in just a few areas of the United States, notably California, it appears to be worthy of further study because it offers a means of reducing congestion in addition to possible safety benefits. It is widely used in many other countries.
Hough, David L. (2000), Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (2nd ed.), USA: BowTie Press, p. 213, ISBN 1889540536, 9781889540535, If you think the practice of motorcyclists squeezing between columns of cars on the freeway is completely stupid, dangerous, and unnecessary, you're not alone. Many riders live in areas where lane splitting is neither legal nor tolerated, and the whole idea seems wrong. But lane splitting is a tactic used daily by many motorcycle officers, couriers, and commuters in congested cities where commuter traffic is so clogged that weaving through the stalled cars on a skinny motorcycle is the only way to get across town in a reasonable time frame. As congestion gets worse, you are more likely to see lane splitting by local motorcyclists, whether it's legal or not. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
^ Kim, Ray (February 22, 2006), Lane Splitting: Time Saver or Insanity?, archived from the original on 27 Mar 2009 04:38:22 GMT., retrieved 2009-04-29, For: * It saves time for the rider. * It's better than sitting in traffic, waiting to get rear-ended. * If riders are splitting lanes instead of taking a space in traffic, everyone moves faster. Against: * It's too dangerous. * Car drivers resent it. * Cars get damaged by careless riders. * Is getting rear-ended worse than getting knocked off your bike while splitting lanes? {{citation}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
Grava, Sigurd (2003), Urban Transportation Systems: Choices for Communities, McGraw-Hill Professional, pp. 123–124, ISBN 0071384170, 9780071384179, Since it cannot be expected that there will be large volumes of motorcycles or scooters at any time on any segment of the street network in American communities, it is not a matter of attempting to determine throughput capacities, but rather an issue of incorporating these machines into regular motor vehicle volumes without disruption of flow patters or endangering any of the riders. Nor does this call for special control programs beyond a full observance and enforcement of standard traffic regulations. [...] It is not really possible, no matter how hard one may wish to try, to define and defend a significant role for motorcycles in regular urban transportation. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Grava, Sigurd (2003), Urban Transportation Systems: Choices for Communities, McGraw-Hill Professional, p. 118, ISBN 0071384170, 9780071384179, This practice is allowed in California (the the with the most motorcycles), but is outlawed in many others. It is dangerous, particularly if it happens in moving traffic, and it infuriates automobile drivers, leading to potential road rage. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Parks, Lee (2003), Total control: high performance street riding techniques, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, p. 45, ISBN 0760314039, 9780760314036, 'When I moved to California in 1992, I remember being terrified of this 'lane splitting.' I thought of cars as enemies and had several close calls that left me feeling pretty scared. But, in time, I began to change my attitude toward the traffic, and I started thinking of it as more a dodging game. Now I rarely have close calls, and when I do, I don't freak out and panic. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Preston, Dave (2004), Motorcycle 101, p. 95, ISBN 0974742007, 9780974742007, In California it's legal to 'split' lanes on a motorcycle, which means you can ride in the lane between the lanes when traffic is slowed to a virtual halt. This seems insane to those of us who live in Seattle, and in many other areas, but then the California Highway Patrol 'CHiPS' officers are REQUIRED to park their bikes and await a car pick-up when it rains, so clearly some different sets of priorities are at work! {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter |publisheer= ignored (help)
Holmstrom, Darwin (2001), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles, Alpha Books, ISBN 0028642589, 9780028642581, Lane splitting is not a task for a beginning rider. But for an experienced motorcyclist, splitting lanes when traffic is moving very sloly or is stopped can be as safe or safer than just sitting there. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Vanderbilt, Tom (February 25th, 2009), "Lane Splitting", How We Drive, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2009 10:21:24 GMT, retrieved 2009-04-29, On the other hand, there have been times when I've been absolutely startled by a motorcyclist unexpectedly passing me. This raises the question of the 'attentional set': If we don't usually expect motorcycles to be there, will we not see them as we change lanes, or if we unintentionally "drift" a bit? (for the biker, the added problem is the people who don't signal before changing). {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |archivedate= (help)
Mathews, J.L. (2006), How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim (6th ed.), Nolo, pp. 29–30, ISBN 1413305199, 9781413305197, Even in California, it is legal only if done safely. And 'safely' is always very much a judgment call. The mere fact that an accident happened while a rider was lane splitting is very strong evidence that on that occasion it wasn't safe to do so. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Mathews, J.L. (2006), How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim (6th ed.), Nolo, p. 30, ISBN 1413305199, 9781413305197, If you've been involved in an accident you will have a hard job convincing an insurance adjuster that the accident was not completely your fault. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
^ CHP-Frequently Asked Questions of the Highway Patrol, February 2009, retrieved 2009-02-14, Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
Motorcycle Accidents: Lane Splitting, Nolo, If an accident happens while a motorcycle is lane splitting, there's a good chance that fault for the accident will be attributed to the motorcycle rider. If the insurance adjuster or court finds that the motorcyclist's carelessness was a substantial cause of the accident, the rider is out of luck when it comes to recovering damages.
Vogel, Kenneth P. (2005-03-01), "Bill could give bikers free pass through traffic.", The News Tribune, Tacoma, Washington, But the Washington State Patrol is opposed to the bill, according to patrol spokesman Capt. Jeff DeVere. He told the committee that it would be difficult to set and enforce standards for appropriate speeds and conditions for lane splitting. And he said that officials with the California Highway Patrol told him that they wished they had never begun allowing the practice.
"Lane Sharing" (PDF), California Motorcycle Handbook 2008, p. 15, 2008, retrieved 2008-10-21 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
Oxford Systematics (2000), Motorcycle Transport – Powered Two Wheelers in Victoria (PDF), VicRoads & Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council, retrieved 2007-04-07 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
Coyne, Philip (1996), Motorcycle ROADCRAFT - The police rider's handbook to better motorcycling (11th impression ed.), The Stationery Office, pp. pp. 139–140, ISBN 9780113411436 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Frequently Asked Questions of the Highway Patrol, 2009 State of California, 2009, Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles? Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
Hough, David L. (2000), Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (2nd ed.), USA: BowTie Press, pp. 214–215, ISBN 1889540536, 9781889540535, Consider part a. It obviously encourages you to drive (ride) entirely within one lane or the other. but it but it doesn't say it's illegal to ride a motorcycle half in one lane . More importantly, it gives the officer judgment call over whether he thinks you moved out of one lane (or the other) "with reasonable safety." ... The third law that can be applied to lane splitting is Turning Movements and Required Signals. ... Think about that. If Officer A caught you lane splitting at 20 or 30 knots faster than traffic, he would probably cite you on all three counts. But tomorrow you might find yourself following Officer B on his police bike down the same white line at an even faster pace. {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
Motorcycle Accidents: Lane Splitting, Nolo, Is Lane Splitting Legal? While most states do not recognize lane splitting as a legal maneuver, they also do not specifically prohibit it. However, police and the courts often interpret lane splitting as unlawful. One state, California, does specifically permit lane splitting, but only if it is done in a "safe and prudent" manner. Of course, the definition of "safe and prudent" is very much up to interpretation by police officers and judges.
CRS 42-4-1503. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic., archived from the original (PDF) on 2009, retrieved 2009-05-11 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,308 Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic; prohibited acts., Nebraska Legislature, retrieved 2009-05-12, No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles
Tips & legal status of filtering in the UK
"Lane splitting is permissible if done in a safe and prudent manner", California Highway Patrol, Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles
"it is not illegal to share lanes with motorcycles", California Driver's Handbook, Sharing the Road with Other Vehicles
American Motorcyclist State Motorcycle Laws
" is legal in California and other states", Tom Vanderbilt, Lane Splitting
"It's OK for Motorcycles To Squeeze Past Traffic", San Francisco Chronicle, October 30, 2000, retrieved 2007-09-01
"All the info you need on lanesharing (lanesplitting)", WhyBike?, retrieved 2007-09-01

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