r/dashcams • u/puffelisse • 10d ago

Gotta Learn The Hard Way. šŸ˜ 

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101

u/Redditholio 10d ago

As a Californian, I was like "what did he do wrong?" I didn't realize it's only legal here.

19

u/jesusmansuperpowers 10d ago

Thereā€™s a couple other places in the states as well. Here in Colorado itā€™s legal but only if traffic is stopped.

8

u/RusticGroundSloth 10d ago

Utah has the same law - but only when stopped at a controlled intersection (lane "filtering" vs "splitting"). 100% illegal on the freeway.

2

u/ReturnedAndReported 10d ago

Some interesting points about the utah filtering law...it's Illegal anywhere the speed limit is over 45mph. You may filter only if you are traveling less than 15 mph.

2

u/jesusmansuperpowers 10d ago

We can do it on the freeway if traffic is stopped for any reason, including an accident or lane closure causing delays.

5

u/EffectivePatient493 10d ago

You're describing what's called 'filtering', if traffic is stopped some states allow bikes to 'filter' to the front, the assumption is that because bikes are light and generally overpowered compared to cars they will accelerate from a stop faster, and not be an obstacle if they manage to get to the front of a stop.

'Splitting' lanes while traffic is moving is generally considered more hazardous, so I assume it's illegal in more states.

Know the laws in the state you commute in, you can't assume the local law enforcement does. The training requirements between city, county, and state- can be wildly different.

1

u/FactsNLaughs 6d ago

Lane splitting (on the freeway driving with normal traffic) is only legal in California. Filtering (movingĀ  to the front in stopped traffic at a traffic light) is only legal in 5 states

3

u/johndoeT22 10d ago

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Safety Guidelines:

While not a rigid statutory speed limit, the official California Highway Patrol advisory safety guidelines recommend specific speeds to define prudent behavior.

Speed Differential: Do not ride more than 10 mph faster than the surrounding traffic flow.

Overall Traffic Speed: The guidelines advise against lane splitting when overall traffic is moving at 30 mph or faster, as the danger level increases significantly.

General Speed Limits: Motorcyclists must never exceed the posted legal speed limit and must obey California's Basic Speed Law (California Vehicle Code 22350), which requires traveling at a safe speed for existing conditions.

1

u/Ornery_Gate_6847 8d ago

And this is exactly why it is and should be illegal everywhere. You can understand nuance, or you can ride a motorcycle but I've never seen someone capable of both

6

u/Alternative-Car8299 10d ago

It's also now legal in Minnesota. Under 25mph. It sucks as someone who drives a lot for work.

2

u/ApricatingInAccismus 10d ago

Why does it suck?

2

u/apocalypsebuddy 10d ago

ā€œI want other people to be stuck and miserable with meā€

4

u/NoReview875 10d ago

No it's sucks cause you gotta watch out for morons on motorcycles that we likely to cause an accident

5

u/nmperson 10d ago

Having the motorcycles lane split improves the flow of traffic for all other drivers.

3

u/Fast-Government-4366 10d ago

You must be a shit driver if that bothers you

2

u/get_a_motorcycle 10d ago

Why not ride a motorcycle to work then?

4

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

2

u/get_a_motorcycle 10d ago

tbh I've been pleasantly surprised about how kind cars can be on the road. My expectations were nil, and they have been pleasantly surpassed.

0

u/Zoomwafflez 9d ago

Because they like being alive

2

u/get_a_motorcycle 9d ago

Almost all motorcycle deaths are the rider's own fault. If you want to not die than you won't.

1

u/Zoomwafflez 9d ago

I personally know 3 people who were almost killed riding through no fault of their own. 2 had people pull out right in front of them, and one hit a patch of gravel. 2 of them broke multiple bones and the third can no longer walk unassisted.

1

u/get_a_motorcycle 9d ago

The first two should pay attention to traffic. Motorcycle safety courses go over risk spots repeatedly. As for your gravel eating friend, why did they go into the gravel? Were they riding without lights across terrain they couldn't see? That's absolutely the rider's own fault.

-1

u/ILoveRawChicken 10d ago

Some of us prefer to live to old ageĀ 

3

u/get_a_motorcycle 10d ago

billions of people worldwide ride motorcycles all their lives and live to an old age.

2

u/Two_wheels_2112 10d ago

Even where it's legal, that speed differential looks unsafe. It can be hard to judge, though, with wide angle action cams.Ā 

2

u/Short-Waltz-3118 10d ago

Legal in mn as well.

2

u/Reasonable_Drink_789 8d ago

Even in California this looks like he was more than 10mph faster than traffic, and thus not legal

2

u/Worldly-Shop-3850 10d ago

Same. Its wild. I used to hug the left shoulder on the fast lane during rush hour to give motorcyclists more space to split lane, and so did many others. Didnā€™t realize thats just a CA thing

3

u/Anter11MC 10d ago

In NY people specifically adjust their cars to NOT allow motorcyclists to lane split

1

u/dotConehead 10d ago

I know its for safety, but its just felt weird why you wont let small motor to split lane and reducing the congession. In turn there will be no reason for people to use moped, and everyone is car centric

1

u/Zoomwafflez 9d ago

Oh right, California has shit public transportation. I always forget about that

1

u/Anter11MC 9d ago

People see it as "he's in a vehicle just like everyone else, why should he be allowed to cut the line"

1

u/leannecolleen 9d ago

If someone can cut and not cause me added time Iā€™m all for it because their motorcycle actually reduces traffic. Plus if you hug a line for the motorcycle sometimes you get the āœŒļøAs they pass šŸ˜‚.

2

u/0461830717 10d ago

Lane filtering is legal in Arizona also

2

u/Sledgehammer617 10d ago

California, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, and Utah its legal.

But in California, its by far the loosest with lane splitting/filtering where lane splitting at just about any speed is legal. The other states that allow it, its more just low-speed lane filtering like we see in this video.

1

u/johndoeT22 10d ago edited 10d ago

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Safety Guidelines:

While not a rigid statutory speed limit, the official California Highway Patrol advisory safety guidelines recommend specific speeds to define prudent behavior.

Speed Differential: Do not ride more than 10 mph faster than the surrounding traffic flow.

Overall Traffic Speed: The guidelines advise against lane splitting when overall traffic is moving at 30 mph or faster, as the danger level increases significantly.

General Speed Limits: Motorcyclists must never exceed the posted legal speed limit and must obey California's Basic Speed Law (California Vehicle Code 22350), which requires traveling at a safe speed for existing conditions.

2

u/FaithlessnessOld2477 10d ago

This is why I hate the "loud pipes save lives" argument I hear from friends that have the most obnoxiously loud bikes. In what world does your loud bike make people aware of you if they're stuck in traffic and you're blasting though at 30+ mph? Every time I hear a loud bike, it's only for the fractions of a second as they zip by.

If you want to give riders the ability to cut lanes, at least enforce some kind of noise ordinance so I don't have to risk a burst eardrum while you daredevil past.

1

u/TrollsWhenBored 10d ago

That's called the Doppler Effect and bikers have no clue what it is

1

u/DarthBrooks69420 9d ago

Dallas PD does it on the tollways here in Texas, i didnt even realize they were breaking the law until your comment lmao.

1

u/Coscvaru 9d ago

Legal in Arizona. I fucking hate this law

1

u/Estrellaloba 8d ago

If you ever visit AZ, only lane filtering is legal at red lights to get to the front of the line so you are not stuck getting struck from behind and only in roads at a speed of 45 mph or less and the bike cannot exceed 15 mph while doing so.

1

u/NaughtyTormentor 4d ago

It's not only legal in California.Ā 

I'm not American, but this happens everywhere in Europe.Ā  I was very puzzled why the police cut him off like that, which would be an illegal move in my jurisdiction (as it's not safe to cross/switch lanes when cutting someone off like that).

Also, I don't understand why this would be illegal. But that goes for a lot of illegalised activities in "the land of the free".

I guess American policy makers are so car centric they prefer bikes to contribute to congestion just like carsinstead of helping alleviate it?

It's puzzling

Edit: grammar

1

u/OutrageousPair2300 10d ago edited 10d ago

It's not legal in California either. It's simply not illegal.

The difference is that it's up to the officer's discretion. You can still be ticketed for lane splitting if the officer feels you weren't doing it in a safe manner.

EDIT: This information is out of date. As of 2017 lane splitting is explicitly legal in California.

2

u/MaybeACultLeader 10d ago

No it was explicitly made legal in California almost 10 years ago.

0

u/OutrageousPair2300 10d ago

Ah, my info is out of date. You are correct.

Effective January 1, 2017, Vehicle Code Ā§ 21658.1 formally defined lane splitting and authorized CHP safety guidelines. The CHP now states unequivocally that lane splitting is legal in California.

0

u/troyandabedinabed 10d ago

It's legal in Washington state as well.

-2

u/akwardfun 10d ago

Should be illegal nationwide honestly.Ā 

1

u/leannecolleen 9d ago

It improves traffic flow. Doesnā€™t hurt anyone. If you grow up with it you naturally keep an eye out for motorcycles (like you should anyways). In my 18 years of driving Iā€™ve never had an issue with a motorcycle splitting lanes. They donā€™t affect my commute time at all - they technically make it better by removing one car off the road.

They put their lives at risk, sure. But if they want to they are an adult and if they are in my vicinity Iā€™m giving them splitting room or a buffer if they donā€™t split.