Lane splitting is one of the real perks of riding in California. On a jammed freeway or a long red light, you can keep moving while traffic sits. It is also surrounded by myths, including speed limits that do not exist in the law.
Here is what the law actually says, what the California Highway Patrol recommends, and how we think about it.
The short answer
Yes, lane splitting is legal in California. The CHP’s message to drivers says it in so many words: “Lane splitting by motorcyclists is legal in California.” The DMV’s Driver Handbook says the same.
What the law says
Lane splitting is defined in California Vehicle Code section 21658.1, added by Assembly Bill 51 (Assembly Members Quirk and Lackey). The governor approved it on August 19, 2016, and the CHP says the section took effect January 1, 2017.
The section does three things:
- Defines lane 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.”
- Allows the CHP to develop educational guidelines on lane splitting that would help keep the motorcyclist and surrounding drivers and passengers safe.
- Requires the CHP to consult with the DMV, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Office of Traffic Safety and a motorcycle safety organization when it writes those guidelines.
That is the whole section.
What the law does not say
Notice what is missing:
- No speed limit. The section sets no maximum speed for lane splitting and no limit on how much faster than traffic you may go. A version of AB 51 amended in May 2015 would have capped lane splitting at 50 mph and 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Those limits were not in the bill that became law.
- No rule on which lanes or which roads. The definition covers divided and undivided streets, roads and highways.
- No pass for three-wheelers. The definition covers a motorcycle with two wheels on the ground, so trikes and sidecar rigs fall outside it.
- No exemption from everything else. The DMV Motorcycle Handbook notes that the basic rules of the road in the Vehicle Code apply to all two-wheel vehicles. Lane splitting being legal does not make reckless riding legal.
You will find specific speed numbers quoted online as “the rule.” They are not in the law, and they are not in the CHP’s current safety tips either.
The CHP’s safety tips
The CHP publishes general lane splitting tips. They are guidance, not law, and the CHP is direct about their limits: lane splitting “can be dangerous and extreme caution should be exercised,” it “should not be performed by inexperienced riders,” and the tips “are not guaranteed to keep you safe.”
The CHP’s tips for motorcyclists:
- Consider the total environment: lane width, the size of surrounding vehicles, and roadway, weather and lighting conditions.
- Danger increases at higher speed differentials.
- Danger increases as overall speed increases.
- It is typically safer to split between the far left lanes than between other lanes.
- Avoid lane splitting next to large vehicles such as big rigs, buses and motorhomes.
- Riding on the shoulder is illegal and is not considered lane splitting.
- Avoid remaining in other vehicles’ blind spots or lingering between vehicles.
- Help drivers see you with brightly colored or reflective protective gear and high beams during daylight.
The CHP also states that the risk of death or serious injury in a lane splitting collision increases as speed and speed differential increase. Notice that the CHP gives no numbers. It leaves the judgment to you.
What drivers must not do
The CHP’s messages for drivers are short and worth knowing whether you ride or not:
- Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal.
- Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcyclist is illegal.
- Drivers in the far left lane should move to the left of their lane to give motorcyclists room to pass.
The DMV’s Driver Handbook adds that drivers should give a motorcycle the full lane whenever possible, never try to pass a motorcycle in the same lane, and check for motorcyclists before opening a door next to traffic.
If you drive, the most useful thing you can do is check your mirror before you change lanes and hold your line when you see a bike coming up between lanes.
How we approach it
What follows is our own practice, not law. Every rider makes their own call.
Earn it first. If you are new, stay in your lane until slow-speed control, braking and head checks are automatic. Permit holders cannot ride the freeway in California anyway, so use that time to build skills.
Keep the speed difference small. The CHP says danger rises with the speed difference between you and traffic. The faster you are moving relative to the cars, the less time you have when a door opens or a car drifts. When traffic starts flowing, rejoin a lane.
Read the cars around you. Gaps in traffic invite lane changes. A car with a wide space next to it, a driver checking a phone or a front wheel turning toward your path is a warning. The DMV Motorcycle Handbook names the risks plainly: a vehicle could turn suddenly or change lanes, a door could open, or a hand could come out a window.
Cover your brakes and stay ready. Fingers on the front brake lever, eyes well ahead.
Pick your spots. The CHP says the far left lanes are typically safer, and to avoid splitting next to large vehicles. It also pays to take extra care near on-ramps and off-ramps, where drivers are changing lanes.
Be seen. Bright or reflective gear and high beams in daylight are part of the CHP’s tips for a reason.
Do not linger. Pass through and move on, rather than riding alongside a car in its blind spot.
The DMV Motorcycle Handbook uses the term to include moving between lanes to the front of traffic stopped at a light, sometimes called filtering. The same care applies: low speed, eyes up, and be ready for the light to change.
Questions riders ask
Is lane splitting legal on California freeways?
Yes. Vehicle Code 21658.1 covers divided and undivided streets, roads and highways. Remember that motorcycle permit holders cannot ride on freeways at all.
Is there a speed limit for lane splitting?
Not in the law. The CHP’s tips say danger increases with overall speed and with the speed difference between you and traffic, but give no numbers. Any fixed figure you read online is not the law.
Can I ride on the shoulder to get past traffic?
No. The CHP says riding on the shoulder is illegal and is not lane splitting.
Can a driver block me on purpose?
The CHP says intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm is illegal, and so is opening a door to impede one.
Should new riders lane split?
The CHP says lane splitting should not be performed by inexperienced riders. We agree. Build your skills first, and when you start, keep it slow.
How SCM can help
Good lane splitting starts with a bike you know well and gear that makes you visible. If you want help choosing riding gear or a bike that suits your commute, stop by our showroom in Brea, North Orange County, or get in touch.
Checked against the CHP and DMV pages on October 11, 2026. Rules change, so always confirm with the DMV and CHP.