Lane splitting is a common maneuver for motorcyclists. Lane splitting is the act of driving in between the space of a car and the lane they are traveling in. Typically, lane splitting can be seen on the freeway or highway where motorcycle drivers speed through the space between two cars while traveling at high speeds or in dense traffic. Lane splitting can be extremely dangerous to motorists and drivers if executed incorrectly. Unsurprisingly, lane splitting is illegal in most states due to its danger to motorcyclists and other drivers. However, California is the only state which currently allows and even encourages lane-splitting for motorcyclists. But why only California?
Benefits of Lane Splitting?
In 2016 California legalized lane splitting, and today it is the only state that legally allows lane splitting on their roadways. Research shows that lane splitting can help make our roads safer, cut down traffic, and reduce our carbon footprint.
Safety
Although the act of lane splitting may seem dangerous, lane splitting has been attributed to a decrease in rear-end accidents for motorcyclists. Rear-end accidents are a common form of collisions for most drivers. By decreasing the number of drivers behind you and navigating through dense traffic areas, these rear-end accidents have been cut down and proven as a benefit to lawful lane-splitting legislation.
Cutting Down Traffic Time
In highly populated areas of California like in Los Angeles or The Bay Area, gridlock traffic is a standard part of daily commuters’ lives. Sometimes going 30 miles can turn into a multi-hour commute depending on traffic conditions. Allowing motorcyclists to lane split helps cut down the amount of daily traffic and commute times for motorcyclists and passenger vehicles.
Minimizing Carbon Footprint
Allowing motorcycles to split lanes helps reduce the number of cars on the roadways at a given time, in a study published by a Belgian research firm Transport & Mobility Leuven. If only 10% of vehicles were replaced with motorcycles, traffic time could be cut down by as much as 60% for all drivers, and carbon emissions could decrease by 6%. This reduction in the number of vehicles helps stop the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and helps reduce our collective carbon footprint by keeping more cars off the roads.
Lane splitting can be seen on the freeway or highway where the motorcycle driver speeds through the space between two cars while traveling at high speeds or in dense traffic. Lane splitting can be extremely dangerous to motorists and drivers if executed incorrectly. However, California is currently one of the only states that allow lane-splitting for motorcyclists. Legalizing lane splitting in and on California roadways helps make our roads safer with fewer accidents, reduced traffic time, and reduce our carbon footprint, making our air and climate cleaner.
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