Perhaps today's climate of insisting that a personal opinion can outweigh any amount of factual evidence has more severe consequences than we had thought.
Despite strong opinions to the contrary, the evidence clearly demonstrates that lane splitting is statistically safer for the rider. Those riders doing so tend to also exhibit safer behaviors (better helmets, less alcohol). There are a few exceptions out there (a$$holes are everywhere) but they don't change the statistical findings:
AMA: Study Finds Lane-Splitting Increases Rider Safety
(American Motorcyclist Association June 2, 2015)
. . .
Among the U.C. Berkeley findings:
- Lane-splitting is safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph
- 69 percent of lane-splitting motorcyclists were exceeding the traffic speed by 15 mph or less speed differentials up to 15 mph were not associated with changes in the frequency of injury
- Compared to riders who were not splitting lanes, lane-splitting motorcyclists were markedly less likely to suffer head injury (9 percent vs. 17 percent), torso injury (19 percent vs. 29 percent) or fatal injury (1.2 percent vs. 3 percent)
- Lane-splitting riders were significantly less likely to be rear-ended than non-lane-splitting riders (2.6 percent vs. 4.6 percent)
- Lane-splitting motorcyclists were more likely to be wearing a full-face helmet than other motorcyclists (81 percent vs. 67 percent)
- Compared to other motorcyclists, lane-splitting riders were more often riding on weekdays and during commuting hours, were using better helmets and were traveling at slower speeds;
- Lane-splitting riders were less likely to have been using alcohol.
"These new findings bolster our position that responsible lane-splitting is a safe and effective riding technique that can be beneficial for riders and motorists alike," Allard said. "Lane splitting eases traffic congestion by taking motorcyclists out of the line of cars and trucks. And the practice increases safety by allowing motorcycle riders to avoid the risk of rear-end collisions in stopped or slow-moving traffic."
Motorcycle lane splitting is a common practice in many countries throughout the world - particularly in the highly urbanized areas of Europe and Asia. Long recognized as a way to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the risk of crashes, the practice nevertheless remains largely prohibited in the United States, with California currently being the exception.
The UC-Berkeley study is the latest to examine crash data related to lane splitting and follows a similar report issued in October 2014 (same conclusions).
Drive safe, ride safe and watch out for those around you.
