Having recently had a lane-splitting motorcycle rider hit and damage the side view mirror and having recently almost hit a motorcyclist who was speeding and weaving in between cars and having been startled while driving as a speeding motorcyclist suddenly sped by and having recent conversation with neighbors who had similar stories and having to report motorcycle crashes in the news every week….it was time to check the laws about what is going on.
According to the CHP and some law firms that handle motorcycle cases, while the practice of lane splitting is legal in California, motorcyclists are supposed to only split the lane when traffic is flowing at 40 mph or less.
And that they’re not supposed to go more than 10 mph over the speed of the surrounding traffic. And that they are not supposed to weave in an out of lanes at faster speeds.
But unfortunately, as in many things in life, there are always bad apples in any bunch of people doing some common thing, And that’s how the few can give all motorcyclists a bad reputation and make us drivers of vehicles fearful of hitting one of them.
If you are among the law abiding motorcycle riders, maybe you can spread the word.
(Photo Getty Images)