{"id":10712,"date":"2023-05-18T16:50:31","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T16:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/linuxwp.ama-cycle.org\/?page_id=10712"},"modified":"2024-12-03T20:53:04","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T20:53:04","slug":"lane-splitting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/americanmotorcyclist.com\/rights\/ama-board-position-statements\/lane-splitting\/","title":{"rendered":"Lane Splitting"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10712\" class=\"elementor elementor-10712\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-56ce36a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"56ce36a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d20e605\" data-id=\"d20e605\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f41a461 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"f41a461\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider 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.elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b89b1d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"b89b1d1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6318223\" data-id=\"6318223\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57ad691 elementor-blockquote--skin-clean elementor-blockquote--align-center elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"57ad691\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.19.0 - 26-02-2024 *\/\n@charset \"UTF-8\";.entry-content blockquote.elementor-blockquote:not(.alignright):not(.alignleft),.entry-summary blockquote.elementor-blockquote{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote{margin:0;padding:0;outline:0;font-size:100%;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;quotes:none;border:0;font-style:normal;color:#3f444b}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote .e-q-footer:after,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote .e-q-footer:before,.elementor-widget-blockquote 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.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{right:auto;left:-.8em;border-right-color:#1da1f2;border-left-color:transparent}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{left:auto;right:-.8em;border-right-color:transparent;border-left-color:#1da1f2}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-left-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed .elementor-blockquote{background-color:#f9fafa;padding:30px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-border .elementor-blockquote{border-color:#f9fafa;border-left:7px #f9fafa;border-style:solid;padding-left:20px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote:before{content:\"\u201c\";font-size:100px;color:#f9fafa;font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-weight:900;line-height:1;display:block;height:.6em}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote__content{margin-top:15px}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:left}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:right}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row-reverse}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote{text-align:center}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer,.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__author{display:block}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}<\/style>\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tThe AMA endorses the practice of legalizing lane splitting and lane filtering. Given the long-term success in California and the University of California Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) study showing that it enhances motorcycle safety. \u201cA motorcycle\u2019s narrow width can allow it to pass between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars on roadways where the lanes are wide enough to offer an adequate gap. This option can provide an escape route for motorcyclists who would otherwise be trapped or struck from behind. There is evidence (Hurt, 1981) that traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic.\u201d The AMA endorses these practices\u2014as long as lane splitting and filtering is conducted within identified safe speeds and will assist groups and individuals working to bring legal lane splitting and filtering to their state.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d5c841c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"d5c841c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f74bdf\" data-id=\"7f74bdf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0361b9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a0361b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf47cc8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"cf47cc8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28277e2\" data-id=\"28277e2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86a751a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"86a751a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-274f209 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"274f209\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-edb736d\" data-id=\"edb736d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2c2c26 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-rt-title\" data-id=\"f2c2c26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"rt-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"rt-section-title style1\">\n\t<div class=\"title-holder\">\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title hide fadeInUp\" data-wow-delay=\"1.2s\" data-wow-duration=\"1s\">Operator and passenger safety\t\t\t<span class=\"titledot\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"titleline\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5bb495f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"5bb495f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c26ffde\" data-id=\"c26ffde\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f7eea5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f7eea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>The American Motorcyclist Association places significant emphasis on motorcycle\u00a0operator and passenger safety. On every type of public roadway, motorcyclists encounter challenges from other roadway users and are constantly vigilant to unsafe conditions around them.<\/p><p>Perhaps one of the most dangerous situations for any motorcyclist is being caught in congested traffic, where stop-and-go vehicles, distracted and inattentive vehicle operators, and environmental conditions pose an increased risk of physical contact with another vehicle or hazard. Even minor contact under such conditions can be disastrous for motorcyclists.<\/p><p>The Hurt Report<sup>1<\/sup>, the most comprehensive motorcycle crash causation study to date, noted that, \u201cModerate or heavy traffic was the situation at 59.2 percent of the accidents [studied].\u201d Reducing a motorcyclist\u2019s exposure to vehicles that are frequently accelerating and decelerating on congested roadways can be one way to reduce rear-end collisions for those most vulnerable in traffic.<\/p><p>In many countries (excluding the United States), lane splitting\u00a0and filtering\u00a0are normal practices for motorcyclists. Particularly in the highly urbanized areas of Europe and Asia, motorcycle and scooter operators are expected to pass between conventional vehicles and filter (advance) to the front of the group.<\/p><p>The <em>SafeTREC<\/em> report in 2015 concludes that motorcyclists who split lanes in heavy traffic are significantly less likely to be struck from behind by other motorists, are less likely to suffer head or torso injuries, and are less likely to sustain fatal injuries in a crash.<sup>2<\/sup><\/p><p>One of the recommendations in the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS)<sup>3<\/sup>\u00a0is: \u201cStudy the safety implications of lane splitting.\u201d In support of this recommendation, the report states:<\/p><p>\u201cA motorcycle\u2019s narrow width can allow it to pass between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars on roadways where the lanes are wide enough to offer an adequate gap. This option can provide an escape route for motorcyclists who would otherwise be trapped or struck from behind. There is evidence (Hurt, 1981) that traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic.<\/p><p>\u201cAlthough lane splitting is allowed in just a few areas of the United States, notably California, it appears to be worthy of further study because it offers a means of reducing congestion in addition to possible safety benefits. It is widely used in many other countries.\u201d<\/p><p>In a statement issued by the Motorcycle Industry Council in 2011<sup>4<\/sup>, the trade group states: \u201cIn full consideration of the risks and benefits of lane splitting, the Motorcycle Industry Council supports state laws that allow lane splitting under reasonable restrictions.\u201d<\/p><p>For decades, California was the only state to permit lane splitting<sup>5<\/sup>. However, legislatively, there has been activity on lane splitting in several states. Currently the practice is allowed under a variety of conditions in California, Utah, Arizona, Montana and Colorado. Minnesota has passed legislation that will allow it beginning July 1, 2025<\/p><p>Passing legislation to permit lane splitting is often the first step. Significant efforts to educate riders, and the general motoring public on the benefits. should also be instituted. Using public service announcements and other forms of information sharing could assist in highlighting the safety, congestion reduction, and other benefits of lane splitting.<\/p><p>The AMA endorses rider responsibility and actions that make roadways safer for motorcyclists. Experience has taught us that the legislative process and the implementation of new laws are fraught with uncertainty. A straightforward lane splitting bill may easily be amended with provisions that the AMA and the motorcycling community would find unacceptable. Provisions such as mandatory helmet use in an adult-choice state or mandatory minimum medical insurance coverage provisions would quickly poison an otherwise well-intentioned effort.<\/p><p>Motorcyclists who oppose lane splitting should remember that even where allowed it remains optional. Permitting lane splitting is not the same as requiring it, so those opposed to the practice should consider the desires of other motorcyclists who believe they would benefit from it. Lane splitting is an issue of choice.<\/p><p>Even with the best intentions and organization, inappropriate behavior by motorcyclists can quickly garner a large negative response from the motoring public. For example, a few postings of public roadway stunting or riders recklessly speeding past motorists stuck in traffic, could sour a legitimate campaign to win approval for lane splitting in a state.<\/p><p>While the AMA has long advocated responsible riding practices and does not condone any behavior that violates the rules of the road, we caution that the future of lane splitting in any state could be derailed by the actions of a few irresponsible riders. Advocates of lane splitting should be prepared to counter any negative responses they receive from legislators and those responsible for implementing associated laws.<\/p><p>Given the ongoing success of lane splitting in California<sup>6<\/sup>\u00a0and the recent enthusiasm for lane splitting and\/or filtering in other states, the AMA endorses these practices and will assist groups and individuals working to bring legal lane splitting and\/or filtering to their states.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fff91b1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"fff91b1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-600bfb9\" data-id=\"600bfb9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2788014 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2788014\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-048cc45 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"048cc45\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c12270\" data-id=\"1c12270\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1e35a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c1e35a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><sup>1<\/sup>\u00a0Hurt, H.H. Jr., Ouellet, J.V. &amp; Thom D.R. (1981b). Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures. (DOT HS 805 862). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, page 57.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/americanmotorcyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/013695.pdf\">Download the Hurt report here.<\/a><\/p><p><sup>2<\/sup>\u00a0Rice, Thomas, Troszak, Lara and Erhardt, Taryn (2015). Motorcycle Lane-splitting and Safety in California. May 29, 2015, page 5.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ots.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2019\/06\/Motorcycle-Lane-Splitting-and-Safety-2015.pdf\">See the full report here<\/a>.<\/p><p><sup>3<\/sup>\u00a0National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (DOT HS 809 156), 2000, page 51.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180811162848\/http:\/www.nhtsa.gov\/people\/injury\/pedbimot\/motorcycle\/00-NHT-212-motorcycle\/motorcycle51.html\">The full text is available here<\/a>.<\/p><p><sup>4<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cPosition on Lane Splitting,\u201d Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Dec. 12, 2011. This report was updated in 2014 and 2015, but may still be dated 2014.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/americanmotorcyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/MIC-Position-on-Lane-Splitting-7-29-14.pdf\">Read or download the MIC statement<\/a>.<\/p><p><sup>5<\/sup>\u00a0Issued by the California Highway Patrol, California Motorcycle Safety Program in 2013, the guidelines were rescinded in 2014 for administrative reasons.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/americanmotorcyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/lanesplitting_guidelines.pdf\">The CHP guidelines are still available here.<\/a><\/p><p><sup>6<\/sup>\u00a0California passed a law (<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180811162848\/https:\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB51\">A.B. 51<\/a>) in 2016 that allows the California Highway Patrol to establish guidelines for legal and responsible lane splitting.<\/p><p><sup>i<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cMotorcycle,\u201d as used throughout this position statement, refers to a two-wheeled, single-track registered motor vehicle that requires a motorcycle license or an operator\u2019s license with motorcycle endorsement to operate legally on public roadways. Motorized bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles equipped with a sidecar, three-wheeled motorcycles, motorcycles pulling a trailer, and other nonstandard configurations are excluded from this definition.<\/p><p><sup>ii<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cLane splitting\u201d refers to the practice of riding a motorcycle between clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the same direction.<\/p><p><sup>iii<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cLane filtering \u201crefers to the practice of riding a motorcycle between stopped motor vehicles to the front of the pack, typically at a signalized intersection.<\/p><p><strong>Updated and approved by full AMA BoD 10\/07\/2024<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4d03665 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rt-parallax-bg-no\" data-id=\"4d03665\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81f226d\" data-id=\"81f226d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f519 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"228f519\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The AMA endorses the practice of legalizing lane splitting and lane filtering. Given the long-term success in California and the University of California Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) study showing that it enhances motorcycle safety. \u201cA motorcycle\u2019s narrow width can allow it to pass between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13102,"parent":10700,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_theme","meta":{"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Lane Splitting - American Motorcyclist Association<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/americanmotorcyclist.com\/rights\/ama-board-position-statements\/lane-splitting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lane Splitting - American Motorcyclist Association\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The AMA endorses the practice of legalizing lane splitting and lane filtering. 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