A study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and researched by a University of Southern California researcher found that when a motorcycle lane splits it is safer than the motorcycle sitting in stop-and-go traffic. This study found that when a motorcycle sits in stop-and-go traffic, the motorcycle rider is more likely to be struck by cars and ultimately "sandwiched" between two or more cars.
Of the 7,163 accidents in California last year in which someone was either killed or injured, 2,822 of them had factors often associated with lane splitting. Those factors include excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, improper passing and following too closely.
Generally, the general rule of thumb for lane splitting is to split lanes number 1 and number 2 and to travel no more than fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles faster than traffic. Travelling any faster may directly result in a higher likelihood of being involved in a motorcycle accident.
If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our highly trained Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys. |