Recent Deadly Motorcycle Crashes Reignite Controversial Lane-Splitting Debate

ONTARIO (CBSLA.com) — Recent deadly motorcycle crashes in the Inland Empire have reignited the controversial debate of lane-splitting, which involves the legal act of bikers riding between cars on freeways.

A 40-year-old Corona man was killed on Monday when his bike clipped a vehicle on Highway 91.

The victim was then thrown off his motorcycle and run over by the trailer of a semi-truck.

Biker Robert Gutierrez told KCAL9's Tom Wait he was involved in a lane-splitting accident on the 5 Freeway in Santa Ana when the driver of a van made an illegal lane change.

"I was splitting lanes and he was coming out and I was like, 'Oh, should I avoid him or not?'" he said.

California has no laws preventing lane-splitting—only guidelines from the California Highway Patrol that specify the safest way to do the technique.

A 2012 study by the state and UC Berkeley researchers showed almost three-quarters of bikers lane-split, with only about 15 percent reporting they were involved in crashes.

"Don't drive a car if you're not going to signal. You signal, I'll slow down and let you change lanes," said biker Rocky Palumbo.

"I feel like it's dangerous. I see a lot of younger guys doing it and they don't realize what can happen," said driver Lisa Simpson.

The state's Office of Traffic Safety is conducting a review of motorcycle crashes and will note how many involve lane-splitting.

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Should Controversial Motorcycle Lane-Splitting Be Against The Law?