The Need for Split Lanes for Motorcycles

Motorcycles Need a Split Lane

You hear the loud, ripping engine tear right past you out of nowhere- it’s a motorcycle, making its way through the traffic and leaving you in the dust. Some are surprised that this maneuver of driving in-between lanes is allowed because of how dangerous it seems at first, and some just get angry that they can ‘bend the rules’ and get past the traffic. But regardless of how this move makes other drivers feel, it might just be the only safe place for a motorcyclist to be on the road. Though many drivers will treat lane-splitting like it’s a controversial topic, it will make driving safer for motorcyclists and drivers overall.

One of the biggest arguments against lane-splitting is that it’s ‘inherently unsafe.’ Why is that? According to drivers, it’s just unsafe because some fool will change lanes without checking their mirrors and run into a cyclist that they didn’t notice- but what they don’t understand is how much worse it could be for the cyclist if they had to sit behind and in front of other cars. The American Motorcycle Association has worked to change that incorrect point of view by explaining that, “one of the most dangerous situations for any on-highway motorcyclist is being caught in congested traffic, where stop-and-go vehicles, distracted and inattentive vehicle operators, and environmental conditions pose an increased risk of physical contact with another vehicle or hazard...Even minor contact under such conditions can be disastrous for motorcyclists” (LA Weekly). Hitting a motorcycle from behind and sandwiching it between two cars can not only do more damage than expected, but it can result in a murdered stranger. Also, motorcycles do not have auto-lock brakes because it would flip the machine over, so the only real way for a cyclist to avoid dangerous circumstances is to move away in-between lanes. Otherwise, they end up as a stain on the freeway. When drivers complain about motorcycles having the ability to drive past them in traffic, they should be aware that it’s not just to get ahead, it could potentially save their lives.

In addition to accidents, there are those people that don’t check their mirrors before changing lanes. Not only is this dangerous to other drivers that could get hit as a result of not paying attention, but it could also result in major injury for a motorcyclist trying to use the split lane. Since California recently legalized the use of split lanes by motorcyclists, the hope is that this will force drivers and cyclists to learn the new safety measures and finally minimize the number of accidents on the freeways. Nicholas Harris, a Representative of the American Motorcyclist Association explained why “we think it’s a great idea...It will give the [California Highway Patrol] the authority it needs to educate the drivers and riders of California on the safe guidelines” (LA Times). With this law in place, it will require both drivers and cyclists to comply with the new laws and speed limits set as a result. This should lower the numbers of deaths and injuries caused by people that just don’t pay attention. Of course, there will always be those people that disregard the law and do whatever they want, but this should change the way people view lane-changing and swerving.

Another huge danger for motorcyclists is not the cars around it, but the weather conditions. Since a motorcycle is unprotected from the elements, it is the cyclist’s job to stay protected. Lane-splitting can be beneficial because it gets the cyclist through the patch of poor weather faster so they don’t have to suffer without air conditioning or without a heater. A website that clarifies information from the DMV has a page entitled “Motorcycles and Weather Conditions,” dedicated to safe procedures for cyclists in dangerous weather, and it provides some important measures that can be taken so that everyone is kept safe on the road. For example, in the rain, the website suggests that cyclists “avoid last-minute reactions whenever possible. In wet weather, you must plan ahead to determine when you will need to accelerate or brake.” Because rain poses many threats on the road, it’s very important that motorcyclists can have access to the split lane because it will keep them from having to perform such hasty maneuvers. They can just keep rolling along without having to worry too much about the cars in front of or behind them. Additionally, in extremely hot conditions, it is imperative that cyclists get to where they’re going as soon as possible so they don’t have to risk being in the heat for too long, so splitting lanes could get them somewhere safe that much quicker, or at least it will get them to the next rest stop so they can fill up for a water break. Because of the unpredictability of nature, it is necessary that motorcyclists can use the split lane for their own safety if the weather is too harsh for normal driving.

If every driver were perfect, we would never have to watch another story about a dead or severely injured motorcyclist, but unfortunately, that just isn’t the case. With California finally legalizing lane-splitting for motorcyclists however, the state will finally have the chance to see new restrictions and freedoms that will make the road safer for everyone, not just the motorcyclists themselves. The next time you witness a motorcyclist whip past you in bumper-to-bumper traffic, instead of getting angry and going out of your way to hinder them, just imagine how much worse it could be. If you decide for yourself that you don’t want this person’s blood on your hands, since that is usually the outcome of an accident between cyclist and driver, perhaps a cyclist exercising their right to thwart Rush Hour traffic isn’t the worst thing in the world.