Sloppy lane-splitting language
More stress over lane-splitting
Re “A reasonable bill on lane-splitting stresses safety” (Editorials, June 10): The Berkeley study cited in the editorial also says that almost 1,000 motorcyclists were killed or injured while lane-splitting in just a 15-month period in California. I’m stressed that the Legislature might authorize more motorcyclists to zip through 35-mph traffic at 50 mph.
The legislative author says lane-splitting allows motorcyclists to avoid getting hit from behind, but the Berkeley study says lane-splitting motorcyclists are twice as likely to rear-end other motorists as other motorcyclists in crashes.
You imply the legislation was carefully considered, but sloppy language in Assembly Bill 51 will actually prohibit motorcycles from passing one another when riding in tandem in free-flowing freeway traffic.
As for lane-splitting preventing overheating, it’s about as likely as preventing overeating. That’s an argument from a half-century ago.
John Keller, Davis
This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Sloppy lane-splitting language."