How to Lane Split Safely On A Scooter Or Motorcycle:

Lane splitting is a skill that every motorcyclist or scooter rider will need to become an expert in if you live in any city with traffic. For me, 90% of having a scooter is to get places fast when traffic is horrible. The basics of lane splitting are three parts 1. Ride with the mentality that every other car/driver is trying to kill you at all times 2. Do not lane split at faster than 25-35mph 3. Always be more careful around merging cars or exits.

 It warms my heart to see the freeway backed up, and know that I will probably see a couple of my friends along the way in their cars as I pass by.

However, lane splitting can be illegal if done improperly and also very dangerous if you do not follow certain guidelines.

Tips & Tricks To Lane Splitting Safely: 

1. Pay Attention 100% 
2. Do not rip fast past stopped cars or cars slowly creeping (only go as fast as you can react to cars in front of you)
3. Be extra careful around big semi trucks and tight squeezes
4. Keep an eye out for when two car mirrors line up and pinch off your gap more than it looks like. 
5. Ride with your headlight on, flashers on (if you have them), and think about installing a little flashing light to further warn drivers. 
6. Thank drivers with a wave who give you a little more space. No need to get distracted here just a little peace sign or head nod is all that is needed. These drivers do this for the recognition and out of boredom while stuck in traffic. The least we can do is thank them for looking out, and encourage others to follow suit. I know sometimes it is a little outrageous the amount of space they yield, but at the same time, it is a really nice gesture. Positive enforcement works best!
7. Wear proper safety gear even if you’re just lane splitting at 20-40mph. Riding a scooter can seem like it is less dangerous than a motorcycle, but at the same mph concrete feels the same. Read here for the best deals on protective jackets, gloves, pants, and helmets. 
8. Don’t ride in the shoulder. 
9. Don’t tailgate other motorcyclists lane splitting. If they’re going too slow for you find a way to get around them on either side. 
10. Beware of the angry drivers that hate lane splitters. They will try to squeeze you out, or even sometimes try to kill you by just pulling right out in front of you purposefully. This has happened to me and I was so surprised I didn’t know how to react. People get angry in traffic, and cars will always win against a motorcycle.
11. Don’t go breaking mirrors or kicking cars, you’re going to only ruin it for the rest of us. A simple head shake or a calm discussion with the driver works best. 
12. Wherever cars are entering the freeway or merging to get off, be extra careful. This is the point when people realize they just missed their exit and make a crowd pleaser move to get off. You think they will see you? Just be extra careful wherever cars are merging. 
13. Read your local guidelines on whether lane splitting is legal or not. In California, for example, it is sort of a grey area. It isn’t illegal, but cops can definitely harass you if you’re not lane splitting properly (or too aggressively). 

Enjoy the ride, and enjoy beating traffic:

1. Don’t be afraid to use a couple toots of your horn to let someone know you’re there.
2. Or flash your high to low beam on them, for extra visibility.
3. Practice emergency stops on your scooter or motorcycle. Lock up the rear tire at low speeds and feel how it feels to slide it. It is good to know where the point of locking up your brakes lies, and be used to it. Now when you’re emergency braking you can get the bike right up to that point, and have the most effective braking power. On bikes with ABS locking up the brakes doesn’t apply, but still practice emergency stops often (I do almost everyday).

Lane splitting is a right of passage for any motorcyclist or scooter rider:

It is fun, dangerous, and takes building up too. You will learn to love to squeeze in between two cars, and push the limits.

 I know, I love to do it as well.

You can reduce the risk however if you just follow those guidelines above.  Especially while you’re learning how to split properly.

Then you can get a little wild. Just don’t start breaking peoples’ mirrors and kicking cars. 

Just be sure you wear proper safety gear, and that you can fully pay attention to what is happening around you.

Don’t try to impress everyone on the road with your skills.

That will surely lead you to be down in the middle of the road blocking traffic for everyone. Further pissing off all the cagers that hate motorcyclists. 

Question: Is it legal to lane split in California? 

Answer: Yes. Well sort of. It is a legal grey area, but definitely legal. Just remember it is up to the officer’s discretion whether he thinks you were doing it safely or not. If you want to read more about the California law click here.

Question: Is it okay to go to the front at a red light on a motorcycle? 

Answer: As long as you do it safely and go down the middle of the lanes of traffic it is legal and safe. However, an officer may still give you a ticket if they think you’re being reckless. Do it safely, pay attention, and don’t hit anything and you should be okay. The best thing is to practice a lot and ask a local officer what the rules for the road are in your area. Most cops don’t mind and do it themselves when on motorcycles.

Question: Does wearing a high visibility vest help people notice me on a motorcycle or scooter?

Answer: Yes. read more here According to a study done () high visibility vests help car drivers see you by 37%. The easiest and cheapest option is to just buy a vest like this one on amazon (link checks price). The vests are cheap, and easy to put on. Just wear it. Stop worrying about what others think of how you look. If you’re lane splitting or filtering you should be wearing a high visibility vest.

Question: Is it legal to have a flashing headlight modulator (high to low beam) on my scooter or motorcycle?

Answer: It’s one of those things that is very weirdly defined in the laws. You legally can have a modulator that goes between the high to low beam. But you cannot have one that alternates lights such as on an emergency vehicle (no left to right) flashing.

As long as your lights don’t mimic an emergency vehicle. Most emergency vehicles alternate between left and right side flashing, so if you just have one beam going high to low that is okay.

I personally manually do this with my hand flipping from high to low beam when lane splitting.

I recommend doing it, as it helps people see you sometimes.

Or installing one of these modulators (link here to highest reviewed one on Amazon) so that your high to low beam will flash for you automatically.

Just remember don’t use it at night, and definitely, don’t impersonate an emergency vehicle. Here is a discussion with more of the legal definitions on a forum.

Question: If an accident happens while lane splitting who is at fault?

Answer: If it is in a state where lane splitting is illegal then it will likely be the lane splitters fault. In California where it is legal to lane split, but defined as legal if done in a “safe and prudent” manner it is up to the discretion of the judge, police officer, and witnesses.

To read more from a legal perspective click here.

Most often you are facing an uphill battle if you hit a car while lane splitting. More often than not it will be defined as your fault.

Make sure to get witness statements if it wasn’t your fault, or use a helmet cam to be safer. Here is a one of the top rated helmet cams of 2018, link to Amazon here to check price.