Back in school, teachers taught you a lesson that has probably stuck with you your entire life—don’t cut in line. You’ve used this rule in such places as the bank, your local fast food joint, and while driving in traffic. But what if not cutting in line actually put someone’s life at risk? This is the question many lawmakers have struggled with while considering the legalization of lane splitting, and now that California has legalized the maneuver, it could spread.
Could Spreading Lane Splitting Help Improve Motorcycle Safety?
In Olympia, Washington, SB 5378 was brought to state legislators as a solution to traffic congestion and motorcycle safety concerns. It would have allowed motorcyclists to filter in between lanes on state highways, and it also had an expiration date of July 31, 2019. However, the bill faces stiff opposition from law enforcement, who believe the practice unsafe. That’s not how motorcyclists feel.
Motorcyclists from all over Washington gathered in Olympia on March 17th to voice their support for the bill. However, despite the support from the community most affected by it, the Washington House has stalled on hearing the bill. This hasn’t stopped other states from considering the safety benefits of sharing lanes.
Right now, both Montana and Oregon are also considering laws for lane sharing. This would allow riders to filter through traffic, but they would be limited to moving between lanes at 20 mph, and only in situations where traffic is moving slower than 10 mph. Many motorcyclists across the country are hoping for better results in Montana and Oregon than what we’ve seen in Washington.
As motorcyclist fatalities in Colorado continue to rise, the motorcycling attorneys at the Metier Law Firm will continue to stay on top of possible solutions to the crisis.