Motorcycle crash lane splitting in California
Rate, Comment, Subscribe!
While watching this video, it's important to realize a few things. First, it doesn't matter if you agree, lane-splitting by motorcycles is 100% legal in California. Second, it was not the motorcycle rider that caused the wreck. It was the minivan driver who was not paying attention and illegally crossed the double-yellow line. And finally, the rider was not able to avoid the wreck because he was wearing a helmet.
Let the anti-biker, anti-freedom of choice comments fly.
I agree that you should be your choice to wear a helmet or not but I have to say it looks like he was #$cking lucky to be wearing it, it appears his head hit the concrete.
“And finally, the rider was not able to avoid the wreck because he was wearing a helmet.”
Could you explain that please?
Thanks, at first that seemed to imply that he would have been able to avoid the accident if he were NOT wearing a helmet, which is of course ridiculous. Glad to see the rider came out of that okay.
Helmets don’t cause wrecks and can not prevent wrecks Bill. Forcing helmet-laws on everyone is treating the symptom, not addressing the problem. If you prevent the wreck, no need to argue over the aftermath. Prevention is accomplished the motorcycle rider training AND automobile driver education. This would have been prevented IF the minivan driver would have obeyed the laws. It was not the rider, motorcycle or helmets fault that the accident happened.
I’ve been riding for over 20 years. It’s true that the driver was at fault, but in this case the rider was not riding defensively. When lane splitting, try not to go more than 5 or 10 MPH faster than traffic. This gives WAY more reaction time. Also, watch the front wheels of the cars (especially mini-vans!). The wheels usually turn before the lane change actually occurs. The guy in this video was going too fast.
I split lanes. Do it all the time. The minivan was legally at fault.
Here’s the “BUT.” I would not have been in that crash because I could have avoided the crash by not splitting so fast. If you get hit, there’s something you coulda done (not always, but nearly always).
Experience might have prevented that crash, but the minivan driver is usually overlooked as the one that should have had more experience and changed lanes only when it is safe to do so.
From all the brake lights it looks like the cars are stopped or close to it. This is the most dangerous time to split. You never know who’s going to open the door to empty the ice or the ashtray. The guy is going too fast in this circumstance.
Also the guy is going way to fast past the gaps – areas where cars have an opening to go into the adjacent lane. If there’s a gap, always assume a car will fill it and be ready and able to turn with them if they do . Again, the guy is going too fast in this circumstance.
Verdict: Novice splitter who paid for his mistakes.
Yea, the guy was riding too fast but did the CHP cite that van driver for the double yellow line lane change? They could have cited the rider for unsafe passing. In Calif. lane splitting is considered passing and it’s up to the officer to decide if the move is safe or not.
I think it was a set up. Who would actually be filming themselves white lining on a paticular occasion. Second of all it seems he was going faster then the law allows. 45MPH max for lane splitting in California.
Mike, I seriously doubt this was a set-up! Nobody in their right mind would risk a motorcycle accident in the middle of traffic. I doubt we can estimate the bikers speed from watching the video. Regardless the van was making an illegal lane-change.
looks like a helmet cam . to be a defensive lane splitter you need to slow up when gaps in traffic appear. as you see the huge gap on the right the minvan wanted to take. These gaps are sure signs that cars might suddenly veer out to take..especially when over passes ,junctions and exits occur. an agressive lane splitter.. well by the looks of things .. might have been pressured by other riders to maintain the bliss of making good time.. ride safe!! split lanes but look out for the gaps! and dont let other riders pressure you to make hasty decisions. let them pass if you feel rushed. protect #1. you only get 1 chance on earth!
Any idiot can see that the biker was traveling too fast for the conditions.