Lane splitting banned in France

[DataDan]

Budman: The French study is potentially valuable to US lane-splitting advocates, and it would be helpful to them if AMA could fund an English translation. The end result noted in this thread's OP and the Visordown article--the government banning splitting--is just stoopid (but then, it's government, the wellspring of stoopid). Turns out, the crash increase used to justify the ban was concentrated in one location, where traffic had increased substantially on one affected road, the Bordeaux beltway, and was not seen in the other ten experimental locations.


I spent the better part of the morning Google-translating the report summary (French language source as PDF here) and twisting my brain around the convoluted syntax of the automated translation. Here is possibly readable rendering, but then I think I've temporarily lost the ability to judge readable English. Proceed at your own risk.


Traffic experiment

Motorcycle lane splitting

Assessment report - January 2021

The experiment was conducted on highways in 11 departments (states or provinces) in France 2016-2018. In addition, one other department was used as a control--i.e. no experimental intervention. The purpose was to frame the widespread practice among motorcyclists and assess the effects of legalization and the supervision of this practice.

For the purpose of the experiment, lane-splitting best practice was defined as between the two leftmost lanes at a maximum speed of 50 km/h or 31mph. This was communicated to motorcyclists and was used in analyzing crashes. Riding outside the leftmost and rightmost lanes was explicitly excluded.

Crashes analyzed

The overall motorcycle accident rate decreased by 10% throughout France between the initial state (2012-2014) and the years of experimentation (2016-2018). Motorcyclist deaths, which declined in the years preceding the start of the experiment, stabilized between 734 and 786 during the experiment. Motorcycle crashes in the departments where the experiment was conducted (not just on the experimental roadways, the highways) decreased by 10%, while it increased by 12% on highways and in the control zone.

A sample of 4500 motorcycle crashes in the experimental areas was studied, 1827 of which were lane-splitting, 16 fatal (0.9% fatalities, compared to 1.2% in the California lane-splitting study). All of the fatalities occurred at speed above 50 km/h.

Of the lane-splitting crashes studied, 90% occurred between the two leftmost lanes. The most common crash scenario was the lane-change cutoff familiar to California splitters.

In most of the roadways involved in the experiment, lane-splitting crashes increased slightly over the study period, but in one department, Gironde, they climbed from 13 in 2015 (the year before the experiment) to 57 in 2018 (last year of the experiment). Over the same period on the same roads in Gironde, all motorcycle crashes increased from 310 to 480. It should be noted that a strong annual increase in road traffic is noted on the ring road, which concentrates 90% of 2WD accidents. (I expect that "ring road" refers to the beltway round Bordeaux, by far the largest city in Gironde with a population of 257,000.)

Those who follow best practices are a minority, but growing

The evaluation compares the behavior of motorcyclists users in the experimental areas before the experiment (2015) and during the experiment (2016-2018).

Although remaining in the minority, the combined respect for positioning and speed rules tends to improve over time. during the experiment, especially on the Paris ring road.

More than 80% of splitters stick to the 1-2 corridor.

Regarding lane-splitting speeds on the lane 1-2 corridor, there is a clear general improvement across all 10 experimental observation sites (23% follow the 50 km/h limit in 2015 and 40% in 2018). A more detailed analysis in Gironde made it possible to establish that the speed differential is between 20 and 30 km/h (12-18 mph). The proportion of large excess speed (> 20 km / h) is, for its part, decreasing (20% in 2015; 9% in 2018).

Awareness of the experiment

Three waves of surveys were done during the experiment, with 450 drivers and 450 motorcyclists as subjects. Most were unaware of the experiment, but in some of the experimental areas, awareness neared 50%. Motorists have the feeling that the experiment does not concern them or only slightly. Two thirds of car drivers believe it's up to motorcyclists to modify their driving. However, the principle of lane splitting remains well accepted both by motorcyclists and also by light vehicle users.

There is an annual increase in motorcyclists who state that they practice lane-splitting as well as a steady increase in those who claim to be in visual contact with other drivers on highways and expressways in the experimental areas.

Training

The experimentation decree provided that rules governing lane splitting are incorporated into the teaching of driving any vehicle admitted to drive on public roads. This was followed up with interviews of instructors and students. Instructor both within and beyond the experimental regions are aware of the defined best practices, but the information is presented more in the experimental areas than outside.

Conclusion

In the end, the experiment had positive effects in terms of behavior although the behavior respecting the best-practice rules remains in the minority. It helped to strengthen the pedagogy although there is still room for improvement. Motorcycle lane-splitting within the rules of the experiment is well accepted, including by drivers of light vehicles. The accident results seem to indicate a trend of a slight increase in injury accidents related to lane splitting within and outside of best practices, with the exception of Gironde where a tripling of injury accidents as part of a wider trend of increasing 2WD accidents.

 

[budman]

:applause

Thanks DD. I will share your post with the higher ups! :thumbup

 

[Wrider]

Was in Annecy few years ago. Anyway, was following a rider who was splitting on singe lane road. He had skills for sure, but that was very aggressive splitting, and that's by Santa Cruz mountains in the summer standards.

I'm a big fan of responsible splitting.

Just to be clear though, there is no such thing as "splitting on a single lane road," at least in California.

Splitting is, by definition, going between two lanes of traffic going the same direction. So if it's on a one-lane road, or a road like Skyline, it ain't splittin'. It's passing.

 

[mayorofnow]

I'm a big fan of responsible splitting.

Just to be clear though, there is no such thing as "splitting on a single lane road," at least in California.

Splitting is, by definition, going between two lanes of traffic going the same direction. So if it's on a one-lane road, or a road like Skyline, it ain't splittin'. It's passing.

If you don't cross the solid lines on either side of the lane, would it be permissible as "lane sharing"?

I've certainly filtered through plenty of one-lane traffic jams, but am careful not to leave the lane.

 

[budman]

It is not legal by definition, but I don't think is high on the list of "going to ticket that person" for most officers.

 

[mayorofnow]

I think about solid lines whenever I'm riding on a windy road.

If a cyclist is holding up car traffic, cars cross the solid line at the next straightaway to pass the bicycle, and nobody thinks anything of it. If a motorcycle crosses the line to pass a slow car, the perception is very different, even though the act is the same.

 

[mayorofnow]

I think about solid lines whenever I'm riding on a windy road.

If a cyclist is holding up car traffic, cars cross the solid line at the next straightaway to pass the bicycle, and nobody thinks anything of it. If a motorcycle crosses the line to pass a slow car, the perception is very different, even though the act is the same.

 

[ZCrow]

I was as shocked to read that France did this as I was to read that it was not already legal in France. I thought North America was alone on that front.

It's amazing that this one study and selectively presented was enough to inspire the force of law. Makes me wonder what the real politics is behind and yes, what the hell was the moto industry doing while this was happening, because I can't imagine the industry doing well in the wake. I mean, who would ride a motorcycle in an of the urban centers of Europe without the ability to lane share?

Hell legal lane sharing is one the many things that I love about my state.:teeth France you are not helping.:thumbdown

 

[berth]

If a cyclist is holding up car traffic, cars cross the solid line at the next straightaway to pass the bicycle, and nobody thinks anything of it. If a motorcycle crosses the line to pass a slow car, the perception is very different, even though the act is the same.

Funny, when I see that happen I noticed that the cars being passed are typically going far faster than the 10 MPH that the cyclist is going.

 

[vaara]

From a French insurance company's site, regarding the five-year study (in addition to what's already been mentioned); emphasis mine:

Of the 16 deadly accidents that occurred during the experiment, none of the riders had been following the defined rules [i.e. max speed and delta]. Still, on the plus side, even though only 23% of riders had been observing the 50 km/h maximum speed, that number increased to 40% five years later.

https://www.lelynx.fr/assurance-moto/securite-routiere/code-route/circulation-interfile/

tl;dr: French riders were given a chance to demonstrate that they are responsible road users. They failed. Et voilà.

 

[yodaisgod]

I don't know, Lloyd. The French are assholes.

 

[bojangle]

It is not legal by definition, but I don't think is high on the list of "going to ticket that person" for most officers.

It's also not specifically outlawed either. I'm really not sure why they left sharing in a single lane in one direction out of the definition. I would prefer that the definition of "lane splitting" did not define it as only between two lanes in the same direction. IMO, it would have been better to call it lane sharing, and define it as sharing on roads of one or more lanes in the same direction. It would create less confusion about sharing a single lane.

 

[DataDan]

The dark side

Looking deeper into the French report:

One in four motorcyclists declares that they punch or kick the mirror or the door “always” or “often” in the event of a conflict.​

:wtf

 

[budman]

It's also not specifically outlawed either. I'm really not sure why they left sharing in a single lane in one direction out of the definition. I would prefer that the definition of "lane splitting" did not define it as only between two lanes in the same direction. IMO, it would have been better to call it lane sharing, and define it as sharing on roads of one or more lanes in the same direction. It would create less confusion about sharing a single lane.

I fought like hell to call it lane sharing, but the CHP were not onboard.
So much more friendly sounding. Tried with the Assembly Member too on the one lane thing, but he thought it was to hard to define for a law.

Win some and lose some...just being a sideliner my input was limited.

 

[Wrider]

If you don't cross the solid lines on either side of the lane, would it be permissible as "lane sharing"?

I've certainly filtered through plenty of one-lane traffic jams, but am careful not to leave the lane.

Again, what you describe is not splitting, according to AB 51, passed in 2016. It
defines splitting as "driving a motorcycle ... that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways."

So the common misconception is that if a motorcyclist can squeeze by a car in a single lane, or ride up the shoulder, that those qualify as splitting under the law. They don't.

 

[mayorofnow]

I fought like hell to call it lane sharing, but the CHP were not onboard.
So much more friendly sounding. Tried with the Assembly Member too on the one lane thing, but he thought it was to hard to define for a law.

Whoa, budman! Didn't realize you were part of the fight to make the law. Thanks for your effort!

 

[mayorofnow]

Again, what you describe is not splitting, according to AB 51, passed in 2016. It
defines splitting as "driving a motorcycle ... that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways."

So the common misconception is that if a motorcyclist can squeeze by a car in a single lane, or ride up the shoulder, that those qualify as splitting under the law. They don't.

I know that. That's why I was asking if "lane sharing" was different than splitting in this case. For instance, here's the CA law for passing on the right:

The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting that movement in safety. In no event shall that movement be made by driving off the paved or main-traveled portion of the roadway.

So say you're in Stinson Beach. Traffic is backed up for a couple miles - totally stopped, except for the occasional pulse. There's room to maneuver around the cars without leaving the lane - that is, without crossing the solid line on either side. That's not splitting, as defined by the law, but the conditions allow it to be done safely without leaving the paved, main-traveled portion of the roadway. What CVC are you violating if you do so?

I don't mean to be argumentative. It's a common scenario, so I'd like to understand the relevant laws.

 

[flynnstigator]

DataDan alluded to the biggest potential problem with this study on the first page of this thread. If the study did not control for increased numbers of riders when lane splitting was allowed, then it's negligent at best and maybe even deliberately dishonest. If more people are riding motorcycles because they can get there faster without violating the law, then of course there are going to be more motorcycle crashes! I haven't seen or heard anything about whether or not this factor was controlled for.

The other huge problem is that there was no mention of the severity of the accidents, just the number. Lanesplitting accidents are likely to occur at lower speeds, and while any accident on a highway can be fatal for a motorcyclist, it's more likely for one of us to get up and walk away. But if traffic is stopped and someone slams into you doing 60+ MPH, your ticket is punched unless you are very lucky. I'd take a 12% higher chance of an accident that I will likely survive any day!

The people who pushed this through are probably drivers with an ax to grind. Maybe they cut off a rider and got their mirrors punched one too many times.

 

[bojangle]

I know that. That's why I was asking if "lane sharing" was different than splitting in this case. For instance, here's the CA law for passing on the right:



So say you're in Stinson Beach. Traffic is backed up for a couple miles - totally stopped, except for the occasional pulse. There's room to maneuver around the cars without leaving the lane - that is, without crossing the solid line on either side. That's not splitting, as defined by the law, but the conditions allow it to be done safely without leaving the paved, main-traveled portion of the roadway. What CVC are you violating if you do so?

I don't mean to be argumentative. It's a common scenario, so I'd like to understand the relevant laws.

That was my point as well. Sharing a single lane in one direction is not specifically prohibited, provided the rider is obeying all other rules of the road, such as unsafe speed for conditions, and the ones you mentioned.

The lane splitting section doesn't apply to this scenario, but the lane splitting section is also only a definition section. It is not an enforceable section. So, while the section is good in that it positively affirms the practice of lane splitting, probably makes it less likely to be prohibited in the future in California, and might help to promote the legality of the same in other states, it really changed nothing in California. We can lane split and lane share just as legally as before the definition section was added.

 

[budman]

Truth.