California lane splitting law
Lane splitting legal since January 1, 2017
Lane splitting was legal and widely practiced in California before any statute named it. Since January 1, 2017, the Vehicle Code has defined it and allowed it, without setting speed limits. The California Highway Patrol may publish safety guidelines, which are advice and not law.
The rules a rider must follow
California’s statute is short. It defines lane splitting and leaves safety advice to the Highway Patrol. Ordinary traffic law still applies, including the basic speed law and the rules for safe lane changes.
- Lane splitting is riding a motorcycle with two wheels on the ground between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, on divided or undivided streets, roads or highways § 21658.1(a)
- CHP may develop educational guidelines on lane splitting for the safety of riders and surrounding drivers and passengers (guidance, not statutory limits) § 21658.1(b)
- In developing guidelines, CHP must consult DMV, Caltrans, the Office of Traffic Safety and a motorcycle safety organization § 21658.1(c)
“"lane splitting" means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane”
Ask your legislators
If you ride in California, the law already allows this. Riders in other states can point their legislators to it as a working example. Find yours on the California State Legislature legislator lookup or at mystatereps.com.