Traffic Q & A: Bikers need to keep to the lanes
Question: Lisa Jones of Tacoma wrote in about motorcyclists who ride in the space between lanes. She heard it is legal in California, but she’s wondering about Washington.
JOHN HENRIKSON; Staff writer,Tacoma News Tribune
Published: 09/06/1012:05 am | Updated: 09/06/10 9:15 am
“I’ve almost hit a few motorcycle riders due to this type of driving behavior, and while it seems stupidly dangerous, I was told it was OK for them to do this.”
Answer: Sgt. Freddy Williams of the Washington State Patrol looked into the issue and reports that so-called “land splitting” is allowed under certain conditions in California. “Specifically the motorcycles have to be doing less than 15 mph and it can only be done when other vehicle traffic is doing less than 15 mph,” he said.
Here in Washington, though, it’s strictly forbidden. RCW 46.61.608 states that “No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.”
Williams wouldn’t recommend lane-splitting anywhere.
“Your reader was very accurate when she states this type of driving behavior is stupidly dangerous,” he observes. “There are so many bad things that could happen when this type of driving is done.”
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1 comment:
Absolutely incorrect info from the Wa State Patrol. Obviously they have not reviewed the laws of California. I highly recommend they do.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11680481/10-things-you-need-to-know-to-understand-lane-splitting-in-california
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