Bikers in California are not happy to learn that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has taken down a set of guidelines they recently published on their website. Those guidelines had to do with the practice of lane splitting, a practice that has been in place in California for decades. Not only is California the only state where lane splitting is not prohibited, it is also the only one that actually encourages it among bikers.
Lane splitting is the practice of driving between vehicles on a multi-lane highway during times of excess congestion or a complete traffic stoppage. When it was first put into place decades ago, it was encouraged as a way to prevent motorcycles from overheating. California still allows it in order to reduce congestion and prevent motorcycles from being rear-ended during periods of high traffic volume.
The guidelines presented by the CHP were intended to help bikers understand when it was safe to lane split. They were never meant to be construed as enforceable laws or regulations. Unfortunately, uninformed drivers did not see it that way. The resulting confusion made it more difficult for drivers of passenger vehicles to know what was going on. However, removing the guidelines has added further confusion.
Proponents of the guidelines say these are necessary to help car drivers understand that lane splitting is both legal and safe. Critics of the guidelines say these could be misconstrued as enforceable laws, thus encouraging police officers to issue unnecessary citations that would clog the courts. While both sides have legitimate concerns, nothing changes the fact that lane splitting is legal in California. Riders need to be cautious regardless of whether or not the guidelines remain.
Lane Splitting Elsewhere
To our knowledge, lane splitting is illegal in the other 49 states. The practice is generally viewed as dangerous due to a variety of factors. For example, once a rider is committed to a long stretch of congested highway he or she may have no way out of his or her position between lanes. Should the traffic start to pick up speed, it could place the biker in a very dangerous position.
Another concern is that of cars quickly darting out into other lanes during periods of high congestion. A sudden movement by a passenger vehicle could cause a serious accident with a biker splitting lanes. There is just no telling how car drivers will react in congested traffic.
For the record, using the shoulder of the road as an extra lane to get by congested traffic is also illegal. The unpredictability of car drivers makes it equally dangerous as well. Bikers in states other than California are better off just remaining in their lanes and going with the flow of traffic.
In California, be careful when splitting lanes. Never do so at speeds greater than 30 mph, and never drive between vehicles unless you have more than enough clearance. And of course, always be aware of your surroundings. Weather conditions, road conditions and the amount of surrounding traffic all play a role in determining whether lane splitting is safe or not.
