He said "lane split to avoid rear enders which are the lion's share of car v. bike collisions." I take this to mean it's safer, because I trust my situational awareness and reflexes a lot more than someone else's. I've worked on them every day for years.
- http://www.bikerhiway.com/motorcycle-safety-info/index.htmlAccording to the Hurt Study, 77% of two vehicle accidents occur in the 10, 11, 12, 1, and 2 o'clock positions of the motorcycle. The area behind the driver, accounts only for about 3% of impacts.
We see that drivers aren't just seeing motorcyclists, most of the time they aren't seeing them when they are approaching from the front.