According to Hell For Leather, the state of Nevada is considering allowing lane splitting.
For decades, California has been the only US state that’s allowed motorcyclists to efficiently move through traffic by lane splitting – and for a while recently, even that state was in doubt. However, Nevada’s transportation committee is working on a bill that carefully words permission for motorcyclists to lane split.
That bill has passed the transportation committee vote; from there, it will head to the state assembly, then the state senate.
Hopefully it passes; maybe this could be what motorcyclists across the continent have been waiting for. If we can get our politicians to see the benefits of lane splitting, we’d all be better off.
On the other hand, helmet laws have been in flux across the US for years now, with no change in Canada; even if this bill passes, there’s the possibility lawmakers in other jurisdictions will dismiss the move towards lane-splitting as a bad idea. Your best bet, if the bill passes, is to start working on your local politicians as soon as possible.
[…] Last month, we said lane-splitting might be on the rise. Now, we’re telling you it probably isn’t. […]
There is only one reason we don’t legalize lane splitting in much of North America and that’s because people are expected to que here and when one motorist get’s in front of another they get pissy. It doesn’t matter if the guy passing you is going triple the speed you are, he still supposed to sit behind you or he’s a jerk.
Lane splitting is actually safer because you don’t get rear ended and crushed between two vehicles. Since under our current medical system I have to pay for your health care I have a vested interest in making you wear a helmet. However normally I’d be for adults making up there own mind about whether to wear a helmet. Overall motorcycles have an accident rate of approximately 72.34 per 100,000 in 22% of these the head is the primary injury location. So having a helmet on effects about 16 per 100,000 riding population. It’s not zero but it seems like an arguably acceptable risk. Responsibly riding a scooter in a quite suburban neighbourhood without a helmet Is likely less dangerous than a lot of activities people do.
The original source for HFL’s piece is LaneSplittingIsLegal.com – we have full coverage of Ab236 with hearing/work session video and docs at http://lanesplittingislegal.com/tag/ab-236-nevada-lane-splitting-bill
After 20 years of riding in California I’m all for lane splitting. Britain and Europe are similarly enlightened.
I don’t think that helmet laws (the repeal of) are as easy a sell. Unlike lane splitting, not wearing a helmet is more dangerous.