The fact that motorcycles will most likely split lanes whenever they can is obvious, even though this practice is deemed illegal in a lot of countries. Some cops will pretend they did not see the rider doing so at low speed or in stuck traffic, and we salute them.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) goth the idea that lane splitting will never stop, so they though of issuing some guidelines for this kind of riding. While splitting lanes in a sensible manner is legal in California and other countries/ states, rocketing through traffic will certainly cause a police officer to pull the rider over and take legal actions, with a warning for reckless driving being most likely the kindest “reward”.
In brief, CHP's guidelines could be summed as follows:
1. If you split lanes, make sure you ride no more than 10 mph faster than the traffic (16 km/h)
2. If traffic moves at more than 30 mph (48 km/h), you should not split lanes
3. It's safer to split lanes 1 and 2
4. Look around you carefully before deciding to split lanes
5. Keep in mind that other road users might not be aware of you coming between the lanes.
For more details, please read the complete California Highway Patrol Lane Splitting General Guidelines.
In brief, CHP's guidelines could be summed as follows:
1. If you split lanes, make sure you ride no more than 10 mph faster than the traffic (16 km/h)
2. If traffic moves at more than 30 mph (48 km/h), you should not split lanes
3. It's safer to split lanes 1 and 2
4. Look around you carefully before deciding to split lanes
5. Keep in mind that other road users might not be aware of you coming between the lanes.
For more details, please read the complete California Highway Patrol Lane Splitting General Guidelines.
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