These indicated that lane splitting on roads with more than one lane due to slow or stopped traffic resulted in a reduction in the frequency of accidents. This is compared to the number of accidents that occur when the motorcyclist moves in the lane with other traffic. However, Riddle & Brantley`s attorney, Patrick White, reviewed the regulations and found that lane separation is likely illegal in North Carolina. In North Carolina, lane separation is not explicitly illegal or legal. This will result in conflicting results in court regarding injuries, accidents or other disputes related to lane splitting. Since separation of lanes is legalized and enshrined in law, it would allow the judicial system to make clearer decisions. A 2015 report from California found that fewer injuries were sustained in incidents where the motorcyclist shared the lane. This was attributed to the fact that motorcyclists who split the track often wore better helmets and moved at a much slower speed. Lane separation or filtering is the act of driving a motorcycle on lane separation lines on a highway.
– Without testimony or evidence via a VCR, accidents are facilitated by the vehicle that does not share a lane. Lane separation refers to a situation where a motorcyclist is driving in the same direction between two other vehicles. Other terms for track separation are “white-lineing”, “stripe-riding” or “filtering”. www.cycleworld.com/2015/06/02/ama-study-finds-lane-splitting-increases-rider-saftey/ Although North Carolina law does not specifically talk about lane separation, it does talk about lane sharing. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), motorcycles need their own complete lanes to operate safely, as driving between rows of cars, whether moving or stopped, can leave motorcyclists vulnerable to injury. Sometimes, when our assault lawyers help the victim of a motorcycle accident, the injured rider will eventually tell us that he shared a lane at the time of the accident. We are always happy to inform the rider that lane separation is not illegal in North Carolina and should not affect a motorcycle accident. This can be very difficult. As a motorcyclist who divides lanes, you are likely to be blamed for accidents. This could mean that you miss compensation, which could impact your insurance policy. It is important to note that lane separation is NOT the same as lane sharing, which refers to a situation where two or more motorcycles ride side by side on the same lane. Lane sharing is legal in North Carolina under GS ยง 20-146.1.
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident in which you split a lane and were injured, you are encouraged to seek action from our motorcycle injury attorneys in Huntersville before making a claim. Lane separation is a controversial topic among motorcyclists, safety advocates and the public. Unfortunately, North Carolina`s law is not crystal clear on the track layout. Lane separation refers to driving a motorcycle between two lanes going in the same direction. It is sometimes called “filtering”, “white lining” or “stripe”. Motorcyclists typically use lane separation in congested traffic to overtake stationary cars and trucks. If you divide the lanes, you might expect the other party`s insurance company to blame you for the accident. The insurance company could then easily refuse you compensation. This way, you can lose your earned compensation. You must have ways to prove that your lane sharing was not the reason for the accident.
Or at the very least, you should prove that you have a partial (and smaller) fault than the other driver involved. However, many drivers don`t know that lane separation is not legal in North Carolina, and some knowingly break the law because they need to reach their destination faster. If you have been injured in a lane separation motorcycle accident, you may want to know more about your legal rights. Citing the injury report on the causes of motorcycle accidents, MSF says there is evidence that moving between lanes of stopped or slow cars on multi-lane roads such as interstate highways slightly reduces the frequency of accidents compared to staying in the lane and moving with other vehicles. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you have the right to claim damages, even if you have made a duplication of lane. Your injuries should be taken seriously. Motorcyclists tend to suffer serious injuries because they are not as protected as vehicle drivers. However, there is some confusion within the state government itself. The North Carolina Department of Transportation`s motorcycle manual implies that lane sharing is allowed by simply discouraging the practice without explicitly marking it as illegal. “Lane separation is safe if it is done in traffic at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph” 69% of motorcyclists who divided lanes exceeded traffic speed by 15 mph or less Speed differences up to 15 mph were not associated with changes in frequency Injuries “Compared to drivers, who did not share lanes, motorcyclists who divided lanes suffered significantly fewer head injuries (9% vs.
17%), trunk injuries (19% vs. 29%) or fatal injuries (1.2% vs. 3%). 4.6 percent)”Riders separating tracks wear full-face helmets more often than other motorcyclists (81 percent vs. 67 percent)”Compared to other riders, riders separating lanes drove more often on weekdays and during travel times, used better helmets and drove slower;” Lane dividers consumed less alcohol. If you`ve been injured in a motorcycle accident (lane separation or otherwise), you may deserve compensation and our North Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys will be happy to help. “Motorcyclists who split lanes were much less likely to be injured in their collisions,” says the study, which also discussed that injury severity correlates with motorcycle speed. “They were significantly less likely to suffer head, trunk, limb and fatal injuries than drivers who did not share a lane.” Lane sharing is a bit like speed. If a driver thinks it can be done safely to shorten travel time, they will often jump at the chance. But is it legal? What are North Carolina`s lane sharing laws? Should lane separation be legal in North Carolina? At least 15 states have considered bills to legalize lane separation in the past six years, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. In North Carolina three years ago, 1,595 people signed an online petition calling on North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest to promote legislation defining legal lane separation. If you are a motorcyclist, be sure to avoid changing lanes around trucks and large vehicles.
Always wear shiny, reflective clothing and never drive over the speed limit. If you must do so, always do it between the leftmost lanes and avoid blind spots in the vehicle. The same study stated that lane sharing is safe when done in the middle of traffic at 50 miles per hour or less, provided motorcycles do not travel at speeds more than 15 miles per hour faster than other vehicles. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Foundation (NHTSA), supports lane separation, saying, “The narrow width of a motorcycle can allow travel between lanes of stopped or slow cars on roads where the lanes are wide enough to provide sufficient gap. This option can provide an escape route for motorcyclists who would otherwise be trapped or hit from behind. If a motorcyclist was travelling between two lanes at the time of the accident, the driver may be held liable for the collision because he or she was engaged in illegal activities at the time of the accident.