Utah Ponders Lane-Splitting Bill

The Deseret News reports that Utah’s state legislature is considering HB410, which would permit lane splitting — passing a vehicle moving the same direction in the same lane — when motorcyclists determine they can safely make the move without exceeding 40 mph. The lane-splitting bill was presented Tuesday to the House Transportation Committee, which voted 7-2 to advance the bill to the full House for consideration. The legislature, though, concludes March 9, leaving little time for the bill to be considered in both the House and Senate.

Possibly no big deal, since I’ve never seen Salt Lake City congested enough to need to lane split? The fun part in these discussions is always people’s reactions:

“I have driven on those L.A. freeways, and it freaks me out,” said Rep. Roberst Spendlove, R – Sandy. said.

In the Comments to the story:

Flashback – Kearns, UT
March 1, 2017 8:18 a.m.
I hate driving in CA for this very reason. Motorcycles can use the HOV lane which is fine. But I don’t want them zipping between cars. What happens if I have to open my door and one hits me?

B-Real2 – Saratoga Springs, UT
Feb. 28, 2017 9:13 p.m.
We shouldn’t enact CA driving laws unless we also enact no cell phone laws. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Also if I’m driving and accidentally hit a speeding motorcycle as I shift lanes will I be on the hook for vehicular manslaughter? If the biker is dead who’s supposed to prove my innocence? Won’t I be assumed guilty?

B-Real2 – Saratoga Springs, UT
Feb. 28, 2017 9:04 p.m.
This bill should only pass IF the drivers here can prove they can drive and drop out of the “worst driving state” lists. Our car insurance went way up moving here. Not sure why lawmakers are looking at ways to make things more complicated. Let’s try simplifying first. I like new ideas being brought up but our roads need to be safer first. We should EARN the right for laws like this.

NoNamesAccepted – St. George, UT
Feb. 28, 2017 8:07 p.m.
Yet again we see bias in how a story is reported. Who says Utah has “lax” helmet laws?
…Utah is firmly in the majority of States that require helmets for some riders but not others.

To characterize our helmet laws as “lax” is editorializing rather than reporting.

(In fact, AAA Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough was quoted in the story as saying:
“I was surprised … that there was a slight increase in the safety of the motorcyclist.”

But Fairclough said she was concerned that those studies were conducted in states and countries with universal helmet laws for riders. She suggested that wearing a helmet might skew the data and not apply in Utah, where helmet laws are more relaxed.)

Lotsa luck, Utah!