Understanding Lane Splitting Accidents

Lane Splitting Motorcycle Accidents

Lane splitting, which is legal in California, is where a motorcyclist rides between two lanes of traffic. While this maneuver can help riders avoid traffic jams and reach their destinations faster, it also poses significant risks. These risks have gone up significantly in recent years with distracted drivers on their phones or other media devices in their vehicles. This has lead to an increase in the frequency of these types of accidents over the last couple of decades.

Causes of Lane Splitting Accidents

Lane splitting accidents primarily occur due to a few distinct reasons:

1). Limited Spacing: Cars and trucks are not always prepared for motorcycles passing between them, especially larger SUVs and commercial trucks. The limited space can lead to collisions.

2). Sudden Lane Changes: Many drivers do not notice a motorcycle approaching and may change lanes without signaling. This is especially true on freeways where people are in a hurry to get somewhere. These often occur during rush hours on the road where noticing a motorcycle can be even more challenging by drivers.

3). Speed Differentials: If a motorcycle rider is traveling much faster than the flow of traffic, the chances of an accident increase. This also makes it more difficult for drivers to predict how far away a motorcyclist is behind them when making a lane change. Perspective can be difficult to gauge with a motorcycle traveling at a high speed.

Preventing Lane Splitting Accidents

Motorcyclists can help to reduce the risk of these types of accidents with some common-sense strategies:

1). Riding at a safe speed relative to the traffic, and not moving too fast relative to other vehicles. If traffic is backed up on the freeway and moving slow, then a motorcyclist might want to lane split at a relatively slow speed as well.

2). Avoiding lane splitting in heavy traffic or when lanes are very narrow. This is a very common scenario that is dangerous for riders, especially on the freeway.

3). Being extra cautious around large vehicles like trucks and buses. Larger vehicles tend to have larger blind-spots that make it more difficult for those drivers to spot a motorcyclist on the road.

4). Turn on your driving lights and make yourself more visible. Some riders will even rev their engines so that there is an audible warning for other vehicles to look out for them.