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FYI YOUR WHEELS Lane-splitting:
Is it really OK to do that? It
saves time but risks lives It's
legal in California for motorcyclists to weave between traffic lanes to
pass slower cars, but that doesn't make it safe. By JEANNE WRIGHT Special
to The Times You're
stuck on the 405 freeway. All lanes have come to a dead stop, when
suddenly a motorcycle roars past at high speed, inches away, scaring the
wits out of you. It's
called lane-splitting, a harrowing maneuver by motorcyclists to break
through freeway traffic jams and bypass slow‑moving vehicles.
Although motorcyclists love it, motorists often find it annoying and
dangerous. California
is the only state that allows motorcyclists to drive between vehicle
lanes if it is done in a safe manner. And
as the number of motorcycle riders has increased, fatalities are up and
lane-splitting also appears to be on the increase, says Sgt. Ron Burch
of the California Highway Patrol. In
2003, there were 3,592 motorcycle fatalities nationwide, according to
recent figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. The death toll represents a 110% surge over the previous
year in the number of cyclists killed. California
led the nation in 2002 with 323 motorcycle fatalities. Though neither
the CHP nor the NHTSA keeps statistics on the number of accidents
involving motorcycles splitting lanes, anecdotal information indicates
the practice has led to serious injuries and deaths. Of
the five fatal motorcycle accidents Burch worked during his five years
as a CHP motorcycle officer, two of them involved riders who were
splitting lanes on the freeways. The other three involved excessive
speed. "Motorcycling
in general is inherently dangerous. It's startling that
lane‑splitting is even allowed," says Judy Stone, president
of Advocates for Highway Safety, a national nonprofit organization based
in Washington, D.C. "Drivers can't always see them coming, it
surprises people." Stone, whose group advocates strong laws requiring all riders to wear helmets, says head injuries are the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. Stone
argues that the rise in motorcycle deaths nationwide could be, in part,
attributed to the fact that some states repealed helmet laws and others
relaxed requirements on the protective gear. California, 18 other states
and the District of Columbia require helmet use for all motorcycle
drivers and passengers. In 28 other states, only those under a certain
age, generally 18, are
required to wear helmets. Three states ‑ Colorado,
Illinois and Iowa ‑ have no helmet requirements, according to
the group. Though
motorcyclists often clash with safety advocates over issues such as
helmet use, the lane‑splitting issue has at least one rider
organization concerned. "We
don't advocate high-speed lane-splitting. It's dangerous and stupid, not
to mention illegal just about everywhere in the country," says Jeff
Hennie of the influential Motorcycle Rider As
vice president of the group's government affairs, Hennie says
lane‑splitting is certainly a way to reduce traffic congestion in
California, but riders should drive responsibly,
“in this age of road rage.” "Many
motorcycle drivers are very responsible and I try to make room for
them," says Candysse Miller, of the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety. But motorcyclists who speed
and drive recklessly, racing
between lanes. . . and driving in and out of carpool lanes are scary. I
guess it's a “live free or die attitude.” Art
Friedman, an avid California motorcycle rider and senior editor of
Motorcycle Cruising and Motorcyclist magazine, says more research needs
to be done in motorcycle safety, including a closer look at the
advantages and risks of lane-splitting. Though
it can alleviate traffic
congestion, Friedman says, advocates of lane‑splitting have to
consider that “we have more people splitting lanes these days and cars
are bigger and wider.” Speeding between vehicles that are stopped or moving slowly "is not very smart. It just lessens your reaction time and most officers will write you a ticket for doing that.,” he says. If a motorcyclist is lane-splitting and either veers into one of the lanes or loses control and collides with another vehicle in a lane, the motorcyclist is at fault, says Burch of the Highway Patrol. To safely split lanes in slow or stopped traffic, Burch says, speeds should not be more than 10 mph faster than the flow of traffic. Even though lane‑splitting is legal in the state, officers have the discretion to issue citations for unsafe speed or reckless behavior.
"If traffic is stopped and a motorcycle is splitting lanes at 60
mph, anything can happen. Someone could open a car door or make a lane
change. There is no way you will be able to take an evasive maneuver to
prevent a collision," Burch warns. Jeanne Wright can be reached at jeanrite@aol.com FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Here are some answers to some basic questions about our chapter. Q. Do I have to be a current member of the Star Touring and Riding Association also? A. Yes. You must be a current member of the Star Touring and Riding Association before you can become a member of the Chapter. Q. Do I have to own a Yamaha to Join your chapter? A. No. Although S.T.A.R. is the official Yamaha sanctioned owners riding association, we welcome all motorcycle enthusiasts who seek to promote our mission. You can ride any brand of motorcycle. If you are willing to uphold the chapter charter and meet the minimum requirements we welcome anyone. Q. Do I have to participate in every meeting and ride to be a member? A. No. You only need to participate as often as you can to be a member. For voting purposes, you will need to participate at least 70% of the time for voting privileges. Q. How often does the Chapter meet? A. Once a month, the second Saturday of each month. Q: Why should you ride staggered in a group? A: Safety issues: There are many unforeseen conditions that can arise while riding such as: Animals, vehicles failing to yield right of way, debris on the road, unexpected debris falling into your lane, oil spots, gravel, sand and more. Riding staggered gives each biker time and space to react to the potential unexpected mishaps without compromising or endangering the safety of his/her fellow bikers in the group. Q: Why is riding in a group safer than alone? A: The more visibility and number you have on the road the safer you are around other vehicles. More noise from pipes also calls attention that something out of the norm is near to approaching vehicles not always watching for others. Visibility includes flags, clothing, lights and more. The best offense is a good defense. Q: Why do most bikers have loud pipes? A: To be heard by other vehicles whether riding as a group or solo. Most motorists are not keenly aware of motorcycles unless they themselves have one. Loud pipes have been proven to save lives. Q: How should I ride with a group? A:
1st- never ride over your personal comfort zone no matter what. Q: Why do you have rules and bylaws? A: To protect you and other members, our children riding, and grandchildren's safety. To protect our association members from bikers who don't practice safe responsible biking. To promote a positive image and family friendly environment to our members. To unite and unify our association nationally and worldwide toward the same mission statement. We are family ! To promote S.T.A.R in a unified manner while setting an example in our respective communities and helping others less fortunate than us. Q: Do I have to wear leather to be a member of S.T.A.R. or your chapter? A: No. Although it does protect you in minor accidents, from flying debris thrown up from vehicles and more. Q: Must I purchase a vest or patches? A: No. This is optional. However it shows your support, pride and enthusiasm for our association, chapter and to the public that you are helping to promote our unified mission. There are guidelines to follow on how to wear them for unification. Q: How will I be judged as a potential member wanting to join your chapter? A:
1st- Your riding style and ability to ride safely in a group without
jeopardizing the safety of others. Q: I have never ridden with a group, can I still join? A: Yes. You will be afforded at least 3 opportunities to ride with us on a trial basis before being considered for membership in this chapter. You will also be partnered with one of our experienced veteran members "Shepherd" to help you learn the ropes. You may also receive extra help from other chapter members to bring you up the speed, enhance your comfort zone, exchange tips and tricks for a particular bikes features and more. This is to insure both your safety and those of our members. When we all ride safely, we can return to ride again and again as a group and continue to enjoy each others fellowship. Q: I just bought my 1st motorcycle ever, will your chapter teach me to ride? A: No. We can give you tips, tricks, pointers, stories and more from our experiences solo or as a group about riding safely. We do not have the expertise, time or formal training to operate a school for new riders. We suggest that you contact the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). They offer courses on how to ride with highly qualified trainers. Once you have completed this course, your license will be issued. In fact, taking the course will get you an extra discount on motorcycle insurance with most companies. Star Quality S = Safe, scenic, sensible group riding and family oriented fellowship T = Teaching the public, our children and grandchildren about responsible biking while promoting a positive image A = Always willing to actively help others including members and those less fortunate while promoting STAR. Always treating others equally and fairly. R = Respect for others no matter their life style, beliefs, or opinions without discrimination, dissention or arguments. Ready to protect, promote, and uphold the Chapter Charter, By Laws and Guidelines. |