Some motorcyclists and those who are concerned about road safety have heated debates over the practice of lane splitting. While some motorcyclists claim that lane-splitting can help reduce the number of accidents, others believe that it makes the roads less safe for everyone. Who’s right, then? Consider discussing your situation with a Wyoming car accident lawyer.
And is lane-splitting even allowed in Colorado? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at those questions.
In other words, explain the concept of lane splitting.
In lane-splitting, a motorcycle navigates between two lanes of traffic going in the same direction. The compact profile of a motorcycle makes it the only vehicle capable of “splitting” the gap between two lanes of traffic.
Is it legal to merge across lanes in Colorado?
In a word, no. As stated by the Colorado Department of Transportation, both lane splitting and motorcycles sharing lanes with automobiles are prohibited. Only the state of California currently permits lane splitting, and even then, only under specific conditions.
The Colorado House Committee rejected a bill in 2016 that would have legalized lane splitting in the state.
On the other hand, two motorcyclists can travel side by side within the same lane. This practice, termed “co-riding,” helps other motorists keep an eye out for motorcyclists and thereby increases their own safety. Yet, a lane can only accommodate two riders at a time.
Should You Merge or Change Lanes?
If you ask different people, you’ll get different answers on how risky lane splitting actually is. Proponents of lane-splitting say it reduces the risk for bikers in the following ways:
- Facilitating cyclists’ ability to escape congested areas
- Reducing the likelihood of being rear-ended by an automobile which is a leading cause of fatal motorcycle accidents.
- Assisting bikers in getting to a safe place when the weather turns poor or the temperature soars.
- Critics of lane splitting argue that it endangers the safety of drivers everywhere.
Possibility of a collision in a side-impact or merging scenario
- Increasing the likelihood that a car will crash because of a motorcyclist’s sudden appearance.
- Increasing the likelihood of accidents involving “dooring” (e.g., cars opening their doors and motorcycles running into them)
In a case of a motorcycle accident caused by lane-splitting, who is responsible?
It is important to note that if you are injured in a motorbike accident while lane splitting, you may still be eligible to get financial compensation for your suffering. Although lane-splitting is prohibited by law, if an accident occurs and you were not the principal culpable party, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury case.
