Motorcycle Laws in California

Motorcyclists in California must follow the same laws that apply to drivers of standard passenger vehicles. The state also has specific laws that apply only to motorcyclists. These rules are meant to protect motorcyclists, as well as others that share the road.

Knowing and following these laws could help reduce your risk of an accident that could cause severe injuries or death.

If you are injured in a crash, a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer from the Arnold Law Firm will fight to hold negligent motorists responsible for your injuries. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE?

California requires all motorcyclists to obtain a learner’s permit before applying for a license. Riders who are under the age of 21 must hold a permit for at least six months before they can apply for a license.

All applicants must pass a vision exam, skills test and a knowledge test that covers information found in the California Motorcycle Handbook. Applicants, regardless of age, must also pass a California Motorcyclist Safety Program training course administered by the California Highway Patrol.

Permit holders may ride their motorcycle alone, but not after dark on the freeway.

Before a permitholder can be issued an official license, he or she must pass a skills examination test. This is usually conducted on a slow-speed closed-course in a parking lot.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE?

In California, if you are caught riding a motorcycle without a valid motorcycle license you could be fined up to $1,000 and spend up to six months in jail.

HELMET AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT LAWS

California has numerous regulations on equipment riders must wear and equipment that must be on their motorcycles:

• California Vehicle Code (CVC) 27803 requires motorcycle drivers and riders to always wear helmets. The helmet must be in compliance with standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Motorcycles must be equipped with right and left mirrors, per CVC 26709.
• Handlebars may not be installed in such a position that puts the driver’s hands more than six inches above his or her shoulder height as he or she is sitting on the seat, according to CVC 27801.
• Working turn signals, both front and rear, are required for all motorcycles built and first registered on January 1, 1973, or later.
• For motorcycles and exhaust systems manufactured from 2013 on, exhaust systems must be compliant with the Motorcycle Anti-Tampering Act.
• If you drive a motorcycle at night you are required to have a minimum of one headlight.
• Under state law, motorcycles must have taillights that will remain on for a minimum of 15 minutes after the engine has been shut off.

Lane Splitting and Lane Sharing

Lane splitting occurs when a motorcyclist maneuvers between two lanes of traffic to get around vehicles. Lane sharing is when two motorcycles are traveling side by side in the same lane. Lane sharing is legal in many jurisdictions, including in California.

Lane Splitting Laws in California

In 2016, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed California Assembly Bill 51, which defined and legalized motorcycle lane-splitting. California is the only state in the country that allows it.

For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, 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.
Source: California Highway Patrol

The authorizing code was established to reduce catastrophic accidents. In practice, however, lane-splitting seems to produce the most accidents.

There are some additional laws that could help protect riders when they are lane splitting.

California Vehicle Code 22517 makes it illegal for motorists to open or leave open vehicle doors unless it is reasonably safe to do so and will not interfere with the movement of traffic.

It is illegal for motorcyclists to use the shoulder of a road for lane splitting.

The law states that California Highway Patrol (CHP) is allowed to create guidelines or suggestions of when lane splitting will be allowed based on the nature of the surrounding traffic.

Some of these suggestions include:

• Motorcyclists should not drive more than 10 miles per hour faster than the flow of surrounding traffic.
• Motorcyclists should not split lanes while traveling faster than 30 miles per hour.
• Motorcyclists should not split lanes at merge points.
• Motorcyclists should watch out for cars approaching in the distance.

While these guidelines were created by the CHP, they are only suggestions and motorcyclists cannot be issued a ticket for not following them.

However, it is important to take additional precautions when lane splitting, otherwise you could get into a dangerous accident. For example:

• Avoid lane splitting next to large vehicles, like buses, semi-trucks or motorhomes
• Do not linger in the blind spots of other vehicles for too long
• Avoid lane splitting at high speed, as traffic maneuvers become more dangerous
• Remember that lane-splitting between the far-left lanes is usually safer than splitting between other lanes
• Take note of the width of lanes and road and weather conditions before lane splitting

What Are the Dangers of Lane-Splitting?

Lane-splitting allows motorcycles to avoid coming to a stop on busy highways. Without lane-splitting, motorcyclists are forced to sit in a death-zone every time traffic comes to a stop. However, some riders may not be aware that the law requires them to limit their speed relative to the speed of the vehicles being passed. Motorcyclists are not allowed to travel at the speed limit between stopped vehicles.

Almost all incidents between motorcycles and passenger vehicles that occur while lane-splitting are the result of being pinned between two vehicles. The gap sometimes closes when the driver of one or both cars veer toward the motorcycle.

Some experts speculate that as the driver’s attention is drawn to the passing motorcycle, they inadvertently steer in the same direction. The motorcyclist is then placed in a very dangerous situation wherein their fairing or handlebars are struck on one side, making it extremely difficult to keep the bike upright.

Unfortunately, drivers rarely admit that they veered into the motorcycle. The driver may not even be aware of his or her own actions, or, as often is the case, the driver gives a dishonest account of the accident because he or she does not want to be held responsible for the accident.

The best way to protect yourself while lane splitting is to avoid passing between parallel cars so that you have room to move if another driver merges and closes the gap.

If you must pass parallel cars, make sure they see you coming before you are in the middle of the cars.

Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal.

What Are Some Safety Tips to Non-Motorcyclists on the Road?

It is also important that those who share the road with motorcyclists also follow some safety guidelines to avoid a crash. This includes the following:

• Drivers who block a rider’s path on purpose are breaking the law.
• Trying to stop a rider from riding down the road by opening a car door is illegal.
• If you are in the far-left lane you need to move into the left-most part of the lane to give riders enough room to go by.

Drivers who act negligently and veer into motorcyclists who are lane-splitting may be liable for damages.

DETERMINING LIABILITY FOR LANE-SPLITTING CRASHES

When a lane-splitting accident occurs, the insurance companies will investigate who was at fault and assess the factors in the accident to determine its cause. Liability can be complicated in these cases, so it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney about an accident involving lane-splitting.

The focus of the liability investigation will likely be on whether the motorcyclist split lanes safely. If the motorcyclist conducted this maneuver in an unsafe manner, such as by speeding or cutting off other vehicles, the rider may be found at fault for the accident. However, if the motorcyclist did the maneuver safely, he or she might not be found at fault.

CARRYING PASSENGERS

California has no law setting an age restriction for passengers on motorcycles. This means that people of any age may ride a motorcycle as a passenger. However, California law says that passenger seats must be securely fastened to the motorcycle behind the driver’s seat. Passengers must have footrests in place, which must be used while the motorcycle is in motion.

Due to the requirements outlined for passenger seats on motorcycles, children may technically be allowed to ride as a passenger. However, the child must meet the requirements to no longer need a child seat. This means he or she must be at least 4’9”.

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Motorcyclists are required to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance:

• $5,000 for property damage
• $15,000 for bodily injury to an individual
• $30,000 for bodily injuries to multiple victims

In California, if a motorcyclist is involved in an accident and does not carry the minimum amounts of insurance coverage, he or she may face a one-year driver’s license suspension.

CONTACT OUR MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS

The Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers of the Arnold Law Firm work to secure the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We will gather the evidence needed to prove your injuries were caused by another party’s negligence and fight to hold negligent motorists accountable for the harm they have caused you.

Learn the legal options available to you by scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation with an injury lawyer from our law firm today. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid if we help you recover compensation.

Call (916) 777-7777 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form now.