Knocked Over While Lane Splitting

[dagger10k]

You couldn't have checked your mirrors to see if somebody was splitting up before moving over? I'm not saying that it's not on the rider to handle these situations safely and expect these kind of things, but you really think there's nothing at all you can do to prevent it in a car?

And I asked myself (as both a biker and a driver) is there anything I could have done as a car driver to protect the biker in that situation, and there absolutely isn't, which means it's all on the biker.

 

[xmasons]

The take home is that whenever I saw this on a motorcycle, I planned for another car driver to take that place. As I approach the "puddle" I look at the driver who may attempt to occupy it. It's all in the defensive handbook. You can tell if that driver is trying to jump into that space if you are aware, which you certainly need to be when splitting.

Yeppers, you've described a well established common situation and danger for most lane splitters. However that is not what occurred as I described in my original post.

I don't expect people to use their mirrors before changing lanes, and I'm saddened that people forgot the basics of driver's education in remembering to use them.

 

[Enchanter]

We're getting a little off topic when it comes to the analysis of the crash.

Google 'how to adjust your automobile mirror' and you may find that the recommended placement differs from what we, as motorcyclists, assume it to be.

 

[Mr Pepsi]

We're getting a little off topic when it comes to the analysis of the crash.

Google 'how to adjust your automobile mirror' and you may find that the recommended placement differs from what we, as motorcyclists, assume it to be.

For instance, if you can see the rear edge of your car when sitting normal in your car seat, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Tillthedayidie]

traffic filtering or what ever you wanna call it is one of thee most dangerous practices you can do . most of the early morning freeway bike crashes you hear about on the radio are from this. but you don't hear the details . only that there's a delay from a down motorcycle.

calif and Mass are the only two US states that permit it . i do it in Nevada anyways and have got pulled over and lectured by NHP about it . It really really pisses off drivers in this state since its not a common sight or practice. people have followed me home in rage and honk like im about to kill them . crazy ,

the only time ill filter is when the traffic is 10mph or less. always at intersections to get to the front of the line.

I do it and i know its not safe. If i crash its 100% my fault no matter what . Ive almost taken bikes out when im in my car . you are virtually invisible . even if you have a loud bike. you need to assume no one sees you .

then there's the idiots that intentionally close the space so you cant pass. or spit on you as you do. so saying 100% my fault doesn't apply to these psychos who want to see you get hurt. they're stuck you're not and they cant live with that .

 

[moto-rama]

I find myself more and more moving over into the open spot and resuming the split further ahead, rather than continuing directly up the middle. Otherwise, it's really just a matter of time before someone swings out in front of you.

Me, too. Empty spaces seem to have a giant sucking effect on cars driven by in-attentative drivers.

 

[bpw]

calif and Mass are the only two US states that permit it .

Not all allowed in Massachusetts. California is a special place for motos.

 

[bergmen]

I've had a few close ones (one caused by me) so I stopped splitting altogether.

The close ones involving other vehicles were a few that didn't see me and began to encroach but I caught it early enough. A few actually saw me coming and closed the gap to prevent my moving by. This is always with traffic moving at a snails pace and me maybe 10-15mph over that. I ride a 2014 FJR with saddlebags so I am not a tiny profile.

The one I nearly caused was me on the FJR changing lanes and finding myself not looking for splitters. I just completed my change and a rider on a small sport bike came whizzing by between the lanes (much too fast in my opinion). If I was a second sooner we would have collided.

I just move with the traffic now and leave the splitting to others. I'm cool with that, not in a big enough hurry to matter to me.

Dan

 

[Biker_Bear]

traffic filtering or what ever you wanna call it is one of thee most dangerous practices you can do . most of the early morning freeway bike crashes you hear about on the radio are from this. but you don't hear the details . only that there's a delay from a down motorcycle.

calif and Mass are the only two US states that permit it . i do it in Nevada anyways and have got pulled over and lectured by NHP about it . It really really pisses off drivers in this state since its not a common sight or practice. people have followed me home in rage and honk like im about to kill them . crazy ,

the only time ill filter is when the traffic is 10mph or less. always at intersections to get to the front of the line.

I do it and i know its not safe. If i crash its 100% my fault no matter what . Ive almost taken bikes out when im in my car . you are virtually invisible . even if you have a loud bike. you need to assume no one sees you .

then there's the idiots that intentionally close the space so you cant pass. or spit on you as you do. so saying 100% my fault doesn't apply to these psychos who want to see you get hurt. they're stuck you're not and they cant live with that .

This year long study for the CHP shows that Lane Sharing is no more, or Less dangerous than standard riding, with the exception of rear ends, which were half as likely to happen to the moto, but more likely to be the moto doing the rear ending.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3IHXYVmtb-DUHhkaWgwSDNDVlJESy0tWUlNOG5DTEtmZFVn/view

 

[NudeMischief]

I have been rear ended before, and can honestly say an attentive rider filtering is safer than riding in the center of the lane in traffic.

 

[danate]

+1 on moving into the opening lane. If I am in the same position as you and find the car to my right leaving the lane, I immediately move in sync with them to occupy that lane.

Two main reasons for this:

1 - Being on the other side of the line means you occupy that lane, giving you the right to it. If the car to the left then sweeps in and hits you, it's their fault. If you are on their side of the dotted line (especially in their blind spot) and they lane change, it is your fault.

2 - In making the move into the other lane, you increase visibility in the mirror of the car to your left. They may start to get over, but have a better chance of noticing you and canceling their action. It also gives you a bigger buffer zone to react.

Never be the guppy fish swimming alongside the car. Your vision should be better than any car driver's and your reaction time should be on par or better. I see a lot of riders who continue to share a lane when there is an open one next to them and that is always a dangerous move.

Oh yeah, and as it's already been said. More lighting, more better. Since getting Clearwaters on my bike I'd say situations like this happen to me about 50% less. Much more of the car starting to move then quickly swerving back into their lane. They usually only give a very quick glance in their mirrors, so my 6000+ lumens blasting them is much more likely to get attention than a single headlight.

 

[NudeMischief]

+1 on moving into the opening lane. If I am in the same position as you and find the car to my right leaving the lane, I immediately move in sync with them to occupy that lane.

Two main reasons for this:

1 - Being on the other side of the line means you occupy that lane, giving you the right to it. If the car to the left then sweeps in and hits you, it's their fault. If you are on their side of the dotted line (especially in their blind spot) and they lane change, it is your fault.

2 - In making the move into the other lane, you increase visibility in the mirror of the car to your left. They may start to get over, but have a better chance of noticing you and canceling their action. It also gives you a bigger buffer zone to react.

Never be the guppy fish swimming alongside the car. Your vision should be better than any car driver's and your reaction time should be on par or better. I see a lot of riders who continue to share a lane when there is an open one next to them and that is always a dangerous move.

Oh yeah, and as it's already been said. More lighting, more better. Since getting Clearwaters on my bike I'd say situations like this happen to me about 50% less. Much more of the car starting to move then quickly swerving back into their lane. They usually only give a very quick glance in their mirrors, so my 6000+ lumens blasting them is much more likely to get attention than a single headlight.

More lighting = more better ! I could not agree more, HID 55watt + 4300k bulbs they know your coming. Especially at night, So do the aliens in space.

 

[Enchanter]

Looks like we've come to the end of the crash analysis.