MO Safety: Lane Positioning At A Stop

Evans Brasfield
by Evans Brasfield

In recent months, the passage of a bill legalizing lane splitting in California has gotten a lot of press. We believe the legislation is a good thing ( Gabe’s opinion, notwithstanding). However, even in states where the practice is not legal, riders should position themselves such that they can take advantage of the space between vehicles at a stop. No cop is going to cite a rider who jumps between stopped traffic to avoid becoming a minivan sandwich.

Lane Splitting Now Officially Legal In California

Take a look at the photo above. The riders have divided the lane into three pieces to illustrate how much room is available within a lane. Ideally when coming to a stop, a rider will end up on the outside thirds of the lane in traffic. This gives those with cat-like reflexes the chance to get out of the way when skidding tires are heard approaching from behind. If the rider doesn’t get out of the way, at least the impact stands a better chance of tossing him/her between the rows of cars instead of the bumper directly in front of the motorcycle. Additionally, this placement keeps the motorcycle’s tires off of the potentially slippery center of the lane where cars tend to drip oil and air conditioner condensation – a potentially dangerous mix even in dry weather.

If you need a more graphic example of what can happen with the wrong lane placement, take a look at the video below. Fortunately, the rider appears to be okay.

Evans Brasfield
Evans Brasfield

Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.

More by Evans Brasfield

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  • Bezerkus Bezerkus on Dec 08, 2016

    Big jump from traffic positioning and the kind of unsafe lane splitting that takes place in California.

  • HoleshotHunter HoleshotHunter on Dec 09, 2016

    I ride the white lines all of the time, especially at stops. Several times cars ran the red light ans brushed by my jacket. If I had been playing the nail between the hammer and the anvil like this fool, I wouldn't have 946,000 accident free miles. I pull up to the front o the white line, then stop. I have heard that sickening crunch of hammer and anvil many times, especially on freeways. Never stop in the back of stopped traffic.

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