California Motorcycle Lane Splitting Rules – Love it or hate it, divisiveness is a conflict that doesn’t seem to support a middle ground. However, you can no longer ignore it in California.
On January 1, 2017, California’s dividing line, AB-51 became active. That said, riding a motorcycle between two lanes of California traffic has always been a gray area.
California Motorcycle Lane Splitting Rules
Whether legal or illegal, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) uses its authority to decide whether it is used or abused in a case. In 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the CHP published their own useful information on the subject. At this point, the chain lube hits the proverbial fan.
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One of the 39 million people of California wrote to the Department of Police complaining that the CHP exceeded its authority by issuing these instructions. Later, both organizations removed the text and website.
AB-51 is now included in section 21658.1 of the California Vehicle Code, which is implemented, along the dividing line. It also leaves it in the hands of the CHP to make safety decisions.
As of September 2017, divorce is currently legal only in California, but there are a few states where it is not expressly illegal. Many people have asked about the legality in their state, so we researched the laws for each and put the table below.
Remember that it’s up to the highway patrol to determine if your actions were negligent, which means you could still get a ticket, even though your state may not have a law against it.
California Lane Splitting Law: Expert Guide
According to information from the state of California, the separation of lanes is now legal as, ‘motorcycles that drive between stop lines or move vehicles in the same space with two divided traffic lanes and do not divide, street or highway.
California is currently the only state that recognizes the dividing line, so its other names such as drainage, dividing line and white line have different meanings in the other 49 states.
A filter refers to a motorcycle that chooses its route by slowing down or standing still, as at a stop light.
Crossroads aka White Lane refers to drivers who mostly sit at intersections. (Riding this car is considered a bad act and leaving the normal road).
Motorcycle Lane Splitting: Legality By State + Guidelines
As a general rule, the line between do and don’t is best managed from a health perspective. More importantly, if you’re not confident enough to do it, you don’t have to.
Guidelines from the CHP’s Motorcycle Safety Program suggest that a motorcycle should not go more than 10 mph faster than the vehicle it is passing. It is also not recommended to do this when the car starts moving at 30 mph or more. The faster you go, the less time you have to make mistakes.
The safest lane for separation is between lanes one and two, which is the far left. The lens furthest to the right will see the most movement in terms of top and tilt adjustments, making it vulnerable to lens separation. Using the left column, you’ll be able to see clearly between trucks and semis, which means you’ll be able to see the top of many vehicles, giving you a head start on the road ahead.
If you see a driver crossing the road to the right, easily back up. Do not try to balance because you can push the car against each other as the driver moves to avoid you.
Lane Splitting Tips
As with most cycling, splits can be a daunting prospect for the uninitiated. If it doesn’t look like you’re going to get through the gap, don’t try. Similarly, if you see two long cars running toward each other, expect them to return to work. If they close the gap when you’re halfway there, you have no choice.
Close up, look at your bike from the front. Do you have fenders, fairings, bags, forward or motor mounts? The purpose of this exercise is to give you a good amount of body mass.
Now add two feet to one side. That’s the minimum you’ll need if you consider the car’s wing gear and your bike’s lateral movement from the possibility of curbing or adding line marks.
“Separation makes riders safer by eliminating rear-end collisions, and it helps reduce collisions by moving motorcycles out of the way.”
Is Lane Splitting Legal In California?
Whenever the point of division is discussed, the four R’s come into play. These relate to the following: Be worthy, responsible, honest and well mannered.
Be reasonable with your speed, because going too fast makes you responsible for yourself and others.
Responsible You are solely responsible for your own safety, so make sure your decisions and actions reflect that, as it also affects those around you.
Be respectful of other road users. Be sure to acknowledge the person who gave you the extra room before parting ways. Remember, even though you may break up, others are using illegal means to create space for you.
Why Full Throttle Law Supports Legalizing Lane Splitting Or Filtering
Be careful on the road, because when it is combined with traffic, it can be dangerous. You must be aware of bad and uneven terrain, heavy traffic, bad driving and bad weather. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention at all times to respond to all dangers. Remember to be calm, think, and if it feels wrong, just shut up.
From the driver’s point of view, the dividing line saves time, is easy to crash and makes them less dangerous. According to Rob Dingman, president and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association, “Separated lanes make drivers safer by eliminating the risk of rear-end crashes, and it helps with accidents by removing motorcycles from roadways.
The next time you decide to cross the limit, remember to stay calm, don’t speed, stay within the speed limit, and be considerate of other car users. Drive safe!
About the Author Michael Padway is a motorcycle accident attorney with over 40 years of experience in motorcycle accidents. He is a lifelong cyclist, and a fan of its culture, promotion and safety. If you need help with a motorcycle accident, call him at (800) 928-1511 or visit for a free consultation. Copyright © 2024, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice Collection | Do not sell or share my personal information
Is Lane Splitting Legal?
Segregated motorcycle lanes have been permitted by California law for nearly two years. The California Highway Patrol has now issued a safety advisory on the subject – advice that applies not only to bicyclists but also to drivers and trucks.
The police union also said Thursday for the first time that interfering with the dividing line is illegal.
A state law that allows split lanes — in which motorcycles are ridden in the gap between public and freeway traffic lanes — went into effect in January 2017. And it’s been suggested that the CHP may issue a safety advisory on the subject.
“All motorists are ultimately responsible for their own judgment and safety,” CHP Chief Warren Stanley said in a statement.
Lane Filtering Gains Traction
Drivers and trucks are also responsible. The CHP report said it is illegal to obstruct or obstruct a driver, including opening a car door. He also said: Cars in the far lane must move to the left of the left lane so that motorcycles have space on the right.
– “Consider the whole environment when you are separating (this includes the width of the lens, the size of the surrounding vehicles, as well as the current road, weather and light quality).
– “Danger increases faster.” Speed differential is the difference between the speed of the driver and the neighboring vehicle.
– “It is often safer to split in the far left lane than in other traffic lanes.”
California Motorcycle Laws Overview
Last year, the CHP in cooperation with the Department of Motor Vehicles issued similar guidelines for the separation of the roads. These are very specific, showing that the performance is dangerous at least at some speeds.
The guidelines were released Thursday — which the CHP created in collaboration with the DMV, the California Department of Transportation, the Office of Safety and other motorcycle safety organizations. – Does not give instructions on how the car should slow down.
Motorcycle safety studies have shown that lane splitting, while unpleasant for some drivers and riders, is safer than no splitting when done wisely – important because it reduces the risk of a passenger being hit by a car while stopped on the highway.
California is the only state in the United States that allows legal separation, although the practice is legal and common in most European and Asian countries. Legislators in other countries, notably Nevada, Texas and Washington, have proposed laws similar to California’s. No one is too much.
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Charles Fleming writes about cars and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times business section. He also writes a hiking column in the city
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