Lane splitting is the practice of motorcycles moving between lanes of stalled or slowly moving traffic. In many jurisdictions, this practice is illegal, and motorists bear the responsibility for collisions caused by lane splitting. Lane splitting is one of the factors that contribute to motorcycle accidents.
You need to consult a motorcycle accident attorney for legal assistance if you are involved in an accident caused by someone else’s fault.
Why is Lane Splitting Common?
Despite its illegality, most motorists engage in lane splitting for various reasons. Two of the main reasons why lane splitting remains a common practice include:
- Lane splitting reduces overall traffic congestion by allowing motorists to move through slowly moving or stalled traffic.
- It improves motorists’ safety by helping reduce the risk of overheating and engine damage caused by prolonged idling in traffic.
How Does Lane Splitting Contribute to Motorcycle Accidents?
Lane splitting has been considered one of the many factors causing motorcycle accidents on the roads. Here is how lane splitting contributes to motorcycle accidents:
1. Lane splitting increases the likelihood of collisions with other vehicles
It is common for drivers to unexpectedly change lanes, many times without indicating or checking for approaching motorcycles. When this happens, the motorist riding between lanes is at risk of colliding with such vehicles. Motorists riding between lanes, therefore, need to stay alert and anticipate the possibility of one of the cars moving ahead to change lanes.
2. There is little room for motorists to maneuver obstacles
Many roads are uneven, with debris on most sections. These are major obstacles that drivers and motorists have to maneuver for their safety. However, when riding between lanes, motorists have little room to maneuver such obstacles. Therefore, this has the effect of increasing the likelihood of accidents.
3. Aggression among drivers
Since lane splitting allows motorists to bypass traffic, it is likely to cause frustration among drivers stuck in slowly moving or completely stalled traffic. When this happens, drivers tend to react through aggressive behaviors such as blocking riders. Doing this has the risk of causing a collision between the motorist and the blocking car.
4. High risk to inexperienced riders
To safely maneuver between lanes, one is normally required to have great riding skills and effective judgment. To have these, one must have undergone proper training.
In most cases, a large number of motorists are less trained or less experienced and, hence, do not have the skills needed to effectively maneuver between lanes. Therefore, for inexperienced riders, lane splitting can be quite challenging and will always expose them to accidents.
5. Hazardous during congested traffic conditions
During congested traffic conditions, there is always limited space for motorists, leaving little room for evasive actions. This has the effect of increasing the risk of collisions between motorists and other vehicles. The situation gets worse at high speeds. Motorists at high speeds are likely to sustain more fatal injuries if involved in an accident.
Summary
Lane splitting is common because of the benefits, such as reducing overall traffic congestion and enhancing riders’ safety. For these reasons, despite the illegality of the practice, most motorists find themselves involved in it. However, in the event of an accident resulting from lane splitting, the motorcyclist can be held liable.
However, as a motorist, ensure you consult a motorcycle accident attorney when this happens. Lane splitting has been described as a key contributor to motorcycle accidents because it increases the likelihood of collisions, attracts aggressive behaviors among drivers, and leaves little room for motorists to maneuver obstacles, among other things. The bottom line is that riders need to stay alert any time they engage in the practice of lane splitting to reduce the risk of accidents.
