I’m moving to California in the next month, and I want to learn more about the motorcycle laws associated with the state. In California, is lane splitting legal for motorcyclists?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
California is the only state in the country where lane splitting is 100% legal, which is quite a conundrum in the most heavily regulated state in the country.
The idea behind the 2017 bill legalizing lane splitting in California was essentially twofold:
Motorcyclists were going to do it anyway. With limited police resources, tackling more serious crimes was the priority.
The heavy, slow-moving traffic throughout huge areas of the state makes lane splitting far less dangerous than in places where traffic is moving swiftly.
If you want to safely lane split, the California State Highway Patrol offers a lane-splitting guide on its website that discusses all the steps to avoid accidents or collisions.
Since you’re moving to a new state, you need to get
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