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Authorities in California have stopped publishing guidelines for motorcycle lane-splitting.

Motorcycle Lane-SplittingIn most respects, motorcycles are expected to behave just like any other vehicle while out on the road. However, there is at least one special traffic law that applies to motorcyclists, namely the ability to bypass traffic jams by riding in between lanes of stopped cars. This practice is called lane-splitting. While it is currently still legal in California, authorities now seem to be backing away from it. Both the California Highway Patrol and the DMV have removed guidelines for safe motorcycle lane-splitting from their websites and plan to also remove references in printed material by 2015. Will this measure help or hurt traffic safety for motorcyclists?

What Drivers Say About Motorcycle Lane-Splitting

By and large, drivers disapprove of motorcycle lane-splitting. According to a study that the California Office for Traffic Safety conducted, over 75 percent of drivers think lane-splitting is unsafe. About 50 percent wrongly believed it was illegal, and 7 percent said that they sometimes swerve out of their lane to prevent a motorcyclist from passing between the lanes. Naturally this is dangerous and could cause an accident. However, the decision to remove the guidelines does not appear to be connected to concerns about safety. Earlier in 2014, an individual accused the CHP of overstepping its authority in recommending lane-splitting practices. The Office of Administrative Law then told CHP to take down the guidelines, and the DMV has followed suit.

What Bikers Say About Motorcycle Lane-Splitting

Motorcyclists consider lane-splitting a long-recognized technique that actually helps both drivers and bikers. By driving up between rows of stopped cars, motorcyclists help reduce congestion so that all travelers can get to their destinations faster. They also reduce the risk of being rear-ended by a distracted driver in a traffic jam. This type of accident accounts for over a quarter of all motorcycle accidents and has the potential to cause serious harm to riders. One study has suggested that allowing safe lane-splitting across the country could prevent 18,000 motorcycle accidents every year and save riders from injuries and suffering. One final argument bikers make for lane-splitting is that it is actually important for the functioning of their bikes. Most motorcycles cannot cool their own engines when at a standstill in traffic.

Working Together to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

Although the official guidelines for lane-splitting will no longer be published, as long as the practice remains legal it is important for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists riding between lanes in order to help prevent accidents. In the absence of guidelines, motorcycle organizations can still educate riders as to how to engage in safe and legal lane-splitting. In the event that an accident does occur, injured motorcyclists, drivers, and pedestrians can seek help from an experienced personal injury attorney like Fernando D. Vargas.