What Is Lane Splitting?
Lane splitting is essentially when a motorcyclist rides in between car(s) at a slow pace that is faster than the flow of traffic (i.e. 10-15 mph in rush hour). Motorcyclists do this to alleviate anxiety by being exposed to less waiting , do not get fixed at a stop light and can see the traffic flowing in front of them without being stuck in the same place for long periods of time. These benefits are similar to those that lane splitting provides in other parts of the world like Australia, Germany, Norway, and various other countries with a less anti-motorcycle culture.
Texas Lane Splitting Laws
Lane splitting-the practice of a motorcycle riding between two lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic-remains in a legal gray area in the Lone Star State, notwithstanding a couple recent bills in the Texas legislature.
When it comes to lane splitting, the funny (or ironic) thing about Texas is that there are no laws explicitly prohibiting or allowing the practice. Indeed, it is neither legal nor illegal.
In December 2018, the Texas Department of Transportation发布了以下信息:
"In Texas, there is currently no law specifying whether or not motorcyclists can drive between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. Lane splitting can be dangerous and is not recommended. Texas law allows you to drive in the same lane as another vehicle."
This, even though Texas law does regulate vehicles driving abreast in agricultural and industrial areas. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. §§ 545.063-.064.
In March 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature introduced two bills attempting to regulate the practice one way or another.
SB 588, introduced by Sen. Jose Menéndez, would have legalized lane splitting subject to certain conditions. In its final form (which changed from the original bill first filed), the bill would have defined "lane splitting" as "the operation of a motorcycle between vehicles forming a single lane or dividing adjacent lanes of traffic." SB 588 would also have made certain amendments to the Texas Transportation Code that could have impacted the legality of lane splitting, but not directly.
Instead, SB 588 would have created a new section of the Texas Transportation Code titled "Motorcycle Lane Splitting". In so doing, the bill would have defined lane splitting as "the operation of a motorcycle between other vehicles that are within the same lane", noticed motorcycle operators of their ability to engage in lane splitting, and provided the following rules for "lane splitting":
SB 588 died in a Senate committee on May 1, 2019.
HB 273, introduced by Rep. Jessica Ferrar, would have prohibited lane splitting. Specifically, HB 273 would have added the following language to the Texas Transportation Code: A person may not operate a motorcycle: (1) in a lane intended for use by motor vehicles except when authorized to do so under this subtitle; and (2) between lanes of traffic. HB 273 died in the House Transportation Committee on March 21, 2019.
For the time being, lane splitting in Texas remains a legal gray area.
Lane Splitting Laws In Other U.S. States
While Texas remains one of the few states that has not explicitly legalized or outlawed lane splitting, there are numerous other states where lane splitting is explicitly legal, as well as a number of other states where it is illegal. One of the most prominent examples of the former policy is California, where lane splitting was explained and endorsed by the California Highway Patrol in 2013 and has been the subject of multiple legislative proposals. However, one of the lesser known but more surprising examples is Utah, where after a bill passed in 2016, motorcycle officers were authorized to ride between lanes of traffic when it is safe to do so. Surprisingly, Lane splitting is currently illegal in 38 states across the country, and many states continue to consider legislation to either make the practice legal or illegal. For example, in Washington state, legislators appears ready to condemn the practice after a recent study indicated that it may be responsible for more accidents than it prevents. Conversely, in states such as Montana, Oregon, and Illinois, legislators have recently dropped proposals to make the practice legal. As far as neighboring states, Louisiana law explicitly prohibits lane splitting; however, the District of Columbia and Arkansas allow lane splitting. A number of other states, such as New York and Florida, as well as many Midwestern states, have no specific law addressing the practice, leaving riders uncertain whether they can safely share a lane with other vehicles.
Pros And Cons Of Lane Splitting
Many motorcycle riders advocate lane splitting as a positive safety measure, as it offers the possibility for more space on the road for everyone in heavy traffic. Riders feel that having more room to maneuver increases their ability to avoid an accident, particularly in the kind of stop-and-go traffic common in Dallas. However, lane splitting can also present safety risks for motorcyclists.
For motorcyclists, lane splitting has both benefits and drawbacks. For example, those in favor of the practice argue that lane splitting has advantages such as:
According to some in the motorcycle community, driving between traffic lanes allows for a rider to better monitor the movement of cars in front and behind and can even serve to reduce the risk of collisions at red lights, where vehicles often rear-end each other after stopping suddenly. Lane splitting can also help a rider to commute faster, although in order to be safe, safety advocates say he or she must be going at least 10 miles per hour when doing so.
However, there are certain risks associated with lane splitting for riders as well. To begin with, in order to safely lane split, a rider must never exceed the speed of traffic by more than 10 miles per hour; doing so could cause a crash. Even so, his or her increased speed creates a larger risk of collision with a car moving in the same direction, or an opening between two vehicles. Furthermore, drivers with sidelong blind spots may fail to see a motorcyclist traveling quickly between lanes, resulting in collisions.
Just as motorcyclists have mixed feelings about the creation of more space on the roadway through lane splitting, so too do car drivers. Lane splitting creates the potential for less tension between cars and motorcycle riders on congested roads, because passing between traffic lanes essentially doubles the amount of space available for all vehicles. At worst, most say that lane splitting simply makes the existing traffic patterns at least a little safer by allowing more space for travel, and encourages a healthy "give and take" among road users. Nevertheless, some car drivers view lane splitting very differently.
The biggest danger that lane splitting poses to drivers is that more space on the roadway leads to the potential for more congestion. In the case of heavy traffic, the sheer amount of "wiggle room" offered by lane splitting could lead to the risk of injury from a collision with an erratically-driving motorcycle. Larger vehicles may also present a hazard to motorcyclists due to their large blind spots. A motorcycle traveling between lanes can catch up to a large vehicle and find itself directly in its blind spot, a situation that can lead to disaster if the vehicle makes a turn without noticing the motorcycle.
Despite the conflicting opinions of lane splitting held by motorists and motorcyclists, it is not legally permitted at this time in Texas. Motorcyclists are encouraged to be aware of the attitudes that not only drivers have towards lane splitting in Texas, but the potential for legal ramifications as well.
Should Lane Splitting Be Illegal In Texas?
No prediction is easy to make – especially about the future. So, when it comes to the future of lane splitting in Texas the only requirement is that our prediction is not made with absolute certainty.
Some predict that there will be an increasing number of motorcyclists laning splitting as they try to beat the traffic. We suspect that those who do not lane split now will start doing so more if lane splitting is legalized. But lane splitting may actually go down in other populations. Whatever the case may be, illegal lane splitting is certain to go down. "Anytime you do something that is illegal and give it permission to do it, then it will be less," said Johnny Wickersham, the spokesperson for ABATE of Texas. There are two sides to this debate, and both positions have their merits.
Support for Lane Splitting: Advocates of lane splitting like the approach used in California. In that state, the motorcyclists have the freedom to move between lines of stopped or slow-moving vehicles without any restraint. With the busy traffic in major metropolitan areas like Houston and Dallas, this makes a lot of sense for motorcycle enthusiasts. Lane splitting is a strategy used to navigate bottlenecks to avoid wasting time and gas on long traffic jams. Episode 7 of the Mayans M.C. Season 5 features a scene where the character Ez Revelez (played by Emily Tosta) lane splits while trying to get to where her father (played by Edward James Olmos) is in a hospital . She claims to be late to work, and those around her say she will be fired if she does not show up soon. It was just television but the lanesplitting scene got my attention. Furthermore, according to those in support of lane splitting, "close calls" experienced by motorists are mostly due to driver inattention or error, not lane splitting. They believe that lane splitting is a great way to be more efficient, safer and decrease road congestion.
Arguments Against Lane Splitting: Lane splitting opponents, however, are particularly concerned about how inexperienced lane splitters may be involved in an accident. They argue that lane splitting could make for a more unpredictable situation. The wider the margin of the lane split, the more unpredictable drivers become to avoid hitting motorcyclists. San Antonio motorcycle accident attorney, Marco Gonzalez, claimed that in areas where congestion is an issue, many dangerous close calls have happened when lane splitters attempt to get to the front of the lane. Motorcycle enthusiasts often have the skills to maneuver safely in tight situations while those driving other vehicles do not. Some motorists may not see the motorcyclist until it is too late. This leads to accidents that would not have happened had lane splitting been illegal. In short, those against lane splitting believe the dangers outweigh the benefits.
Texas Motorcycle Rider Tips
If you are one of the many motorcyclists who rides in Texas, here are a few tips to make your time on the road as safe and enjoyable as possible: Don’t be afraid to take up more room on the road than a passenger car would take up. If you are surprised at how much space your motorcycle does, you might want to install "crash bars," which are protective pieces of equipment that will help safeguard both you and your vehicle. While you are waiting for a light to change, try to stay away from large, heavy vehicles like pickup trucks. These vehicles often draw up significantly more dirt and debris (especially if stopped next to a construction site), and are also harder to see around. When you are in traffic, consider pulling into gaps to get out in front of other vehicles. Don’t worry, this is generally accepted practice in Texas. Practice stopping and turn smoothly. The best way to do this is to be as still as a statue while driving—keeping your hands just light enough to control the throttle and your feet just lightly resting on the footpegs. You should also maintain a flexible grip on the handlebars and avoid using the brakes unless absolutely necessary. Slowly learn the art of using both brakes to get a smooth stop. Try to make yourself as visible as possible at all times. Universally reflective colors are your best friend. It’s also useful to install auxiliary lights on your motorcycle.
The Future Of Lane Splitting In Texas
Despite the ban on lane splitting in Texas, motorcycle advocacy groups have continued to press for its legalization. This is particularly true in personal injury cases involving motorcycle accidents where more agencies are weighing in with recommendations for laws that allow lane splitting. Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation indicated that it may support the enactment of lane splitting laws in Texas. While these agencies have weighed in on the issue, there are a number of steps that must occur before the law would change . First, a bill would have to be proposed and sponsored by at least one member of the state legislature. The bill would then be introduced and read multiple times in the House and Senate. The bill could then be amended as the legislature sees fit, and a vote would be held. If a simple majority voted in favor of the bill, it would move on to the Governor’s desk for final approval. At this point, the bill could be vetoed or signed into law. If the bill were to become law, it would not go into effect until September of the following year (since new laws take effect on the first day of September each year).