This is welcome news because in the past Lane Splitting was such a grey
area that all you got from the CHP was this...
Quote CHP
Motorcycle lane sharing that you can share with your class from Sgt
Ron Burch Motorcycle CHP
"Riding between two rows of cars is challenging and not exactly the
safest thing to do. There are *no* laws on the books in California
regarding lane splitting, but a *general* rule of thumb is to ride no
faster than 5mph above the flow of traffic. If traffic is moving
faster than 30mph, it's *probably* best to not split lanes."
Ask the CHP hot line about lane splitting and you got this:
Question:
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Answer:
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a
safe and prudent manner.
Quote the Hurt Report...
The Hurt Report, published in 1981 and based on accident data gathered
in the 1970s, concluded that lane splitting reduces rear end crashes
and improves motorcycle safety.
[1] FARS data from the United States Department of Transportation
shows that rear end collisions with motorcycles are 30% lower in
California (the only US state where it is legal) than in Florida or
Texas, states with similar riding seasons and populations.
But then again Lane splitting was called unsafe in the California
Motorcycle Handbook 2008:
Quote California Motorcycle Handbook 2008:
"Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely. Lane
sharing is not safe. Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in
the same lane can leave you vulnerable. A car could turn suddenly or
change lanes, a door could open, or a hand could come out of a window.
Discourage lane sharing by others."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Report
The Oxford Systematics report commissioned by Vic Roads, the traffic
regulating authority in Victoria, Australia, found that for
motorcycles filtering through stationary traffic
"No examples have yet been located where such filtering has been the
cause of an incident." Lane splitting is more than a congestion
reducer or a convenience for the road denizens who are willing to
accept and manage more risk by motorcycling. It is a tool that can
literally save a biker's life, especially in situations where they're
being tailgated, crowded, or flat-out ignored by others."
—Tim Kreitz, moto-journalist & MSF riding instructor