Is Lane Splitting Legal In Pennsylvania
When a motorcycle travels on the dotted line between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, it is referred to as lane splitting. Motorcyclists usually lane split when traffic is moving too slowly or not moving at all. State law makers have only now started thinking of addressing the issue of lane splitting, but it is still not legal in Pennsylvania. There are currently seven states that are working on legalizing lane splitting, but California remains the only state where it not illegal to lane split.
Lane Splitting Law In Pennsylvania
There are about 850,000 licensed motorcyclists in Pennsylvania. The law in the state requires motorcyclists to wear protective riding gear, to never drink and ride, and to obtain proper licensure. Riders are not allowed to weave between lanes and are also prohibited from lane sharing in most circumstances.
The PennDOT manual indicates that riding between rows of moving or stopped vehicles, can put a motorcyclist at risk of hitting opening car doors or drivers hands protruding out of windows. A rider that gets into an accident while lane splitting may be also be liable for damages.
Why Lane Splitting Is Legal In California But Not In Other States
There has been a lot of debate about lane splitting in the United States. Some believe that that it can lessen congested traffic and increases the safety of a motorcyclist. Lane splitting is safe if the lane splitting motorcyclist remains no more than 15 miles per hour faster than surrounding traffic, according to a study from the University of California Berkley. It is the only study that exists about lane splitting.
But the people who oppose lane splitting argue that it can startle other motorists and lead to collisions. Another argument is that lane splitting makes a motorcyclist’s proximity too close to other drivers in such a way that any wrong move could lead to an accident. These arguments dominate discussions about lane splitting and the result is that California remains the only state that allows lane splitting. Law Makers in Pennsylvania may change lane splitting laws in the state if there is more information that shows that lane splitting is a safe maneuver for motorcyclists.
How Lane Splitting Was “Legalized”
All that California legislators did in 2016 was eliminate the law banning lane splitting. They did not enact a new law legalizing it. They merely eliminated the law to help alleviate California’s heavy traffic problem. The thinking was that if you allow motorcycles to lane split then it would lead to less traffic for everyone. The consequence of not enacting a law legalizing lane splitting is that there are no specific rules on how to lane split in California.
All that exists are guidelines from the Department of Motor Vehicles, which focus on informing riders about speeding, defensive riding, and avoiding other motorists’ blind spots. However, just because there are no specific rules on how to lane split does not mean that you won’t get ticketed in California for reckless lane splitting.