Cycle News

IN THE WIND P38 AMA SUPPORTS LANE SPLITTING LEGISLATION IN TEXAS T he AMA says it supports the efforts of Texas motorcyclists and politicians to enact laws dur- ing this legislative session that would permit riders to travel be- tween cars using the maneuver commonly known as lane split- ting. Two bills under consideration would legalize this practice. H.B. 813, introduced by state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. (D-Palm- view), would allow motorcycle riders to ride between lanes of traffic moving in the same direc- tion, if traffic is traveling 20 mph or slower, and if the motorcyclist is not traveling more than 5 mph faster than other traffic. Lane splitting would be prohibited in school zones and in areas where the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less. And riders and passen- gers must wear helmets. S.B. 442, introduced by state Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin), omits the helmet provision, but restricts lane splitting to limited-access or controlled-access highways. The AMA objects to the helmet requirement in the Muñoz bill. "The AMA endorses rider responsibility and actions that make roadways safer for motor- cyclists," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government re- lations. "Research and evidence suggest that lane splitting may reduce a motorcyclist's risk ex- posure, which is why the AMA of- fers conditional support to Texas H.B. 813 and S.B. 442, legisla- tions that would allow lane split- ting with the stated restrictions." The AMA opposes the helmet requirement in H.B. 813, because adults should have the right to make their own safety decisions. "A motorcycle helmet is an im- portant piece of safety gear that the AMA strongly encourages rid- ers to wear, but we believe just as strongly that the choice should be left to adult motorcyclists," Al- lard said. Perhaps one of the most dan- gerous situations for any motor- cyclist is being caught in con- gested traffic, where stop-and-go vehicles, distracted and inatten- tive vehicle operators, and envi- ronmental conditions increase the risk of physical contact with another vehicle or hazard, says the AMA. Reducing a motorcyclist's exposure to vehicles that are frequently accelerating and de- celerating on congested road- ways can be one way to reduce front- and rear-end collisions for those most vulnerable in traffic. A 2014 study conducted in Cali- fornia supports this assertion by demonstrating that motorcyclists engaging in responsible lane splitting were less likely to be rear ended, suffer a head injury or be involved in a fatal crash. Other potential benefits in- clude an increase in conspicu- ity because the motorcyclist is moving relative to other traffic; a reduction in motorcyclist fatigue from constant shifting and braking in stop-and-go traffic; a lessening of the risk for engine damage for air-cooled engines; a reduction in motorcyclists' exposure to ambi- ent heat in the summer and car exhaust year-round due to fewer hours spent in traffic. Motorcycle lane splitting is a common practice in many coun- tries throughout the world—par- ticularly in the highly urbanized areas of Europe and Asia. Long recognized as a way to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the risk of crashes, the practice nevertheless remains largely prohibited in the United States, with California currently being the exception. Texas is considering letting motorcyclists "lane split" under certain conditions.

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