Garth Rattray | Lane-splitting headache

Driving has become very tense, tedious, and technical. I drive defensively by surrendering my ‘right of way’ to avoid crashes with road hogs. In early December 2022, our prime minister publicly bemoaned Jamaica’s 448 road fatalities up to that date. Despite his admonition and expression of great concern, the number rose to 488 in the closing weeks of that year. In all, 46 people were killed as a result of road fatalities in December of 2022 alone.

Between January and March of this year, 99 people died because of crashes on our roads. During the same period last year, 123 people were killed by crashes. Perhaps the reduction was due to the amended Road Traffic Act (that came into effect in February 2023) and the ticketing campaign instituted by the constabulary, but we will never know the true impact of those measures until the end of this year.

Motorcyclists form the largest group of road fatalities. And, not surprisingly, the likely place to meet their maker is at traffic intersections. I vividly recall seeing a motor car driver come to a full stop at a major intersection, then, having waited for a few seconds, come out right into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist. They collided, and the motorcyclist was flung from his motorbike, hit the ground, and temporarily lost consciousness. The horrified motorist explained that he did not see the approaching motorcyclist because he was in the blind spot created by the right A-pillar of the car.

AT RISK

Motorcyclists are especially at risk on our roads because they are smaller than other motor vehicles because they have no safety features (like a protective frame, seat belts, and air bags); because they are very manoeuvrable and can appear from any angle; because they have the ability to move quickly; and because operators of larger vehicles do not always pay enough attention to them. Additionally, some motorbike riders contribute to their problems by speeding, swerving from lane to lane, disobeying the traffic laws, and not wearing proper protective headgear. Ideally, they should also wear brightly coloured or reflective clothing and padding in case of a fall.

There was a recent social media video of a motorcyclist riding briskly between two lines of stopped motor vehicles. Not far up ahead, motorists had stopped to allow vehicles to enter a commercial driveway. An SUV was making the turn when it collided with the motorcyclist. The comments were varied. Some blamed the motorcyclist for riding between lanes; some blamed the motor vehicle driver for cutting across his path; others blamed the motor cyclist for riding too fast between the vehicles; yet others blamed both – the motorcyclist for riding too fast and the motorist for not exercising due care.

The motorcyclist was doing something that Jamaica’s Road Traffic Act does not address. It is called “lane splitting” if the motorcyclist is travelling between two lanes of moving traffic, and it’s called “filtering” if the motorcyclist is travelling between two lanes of very slowly moving or stopped traffic.

Researchers at University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, determined that lane splitting is relatively safe if it is performed in traffic moving no faster than 80 kilometres per hour (kph) and if the motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of the traffic by 24 kph. Otherwise, the motorcyclists should join the line of traffic. Other experts recommend that motorcyclists only go 16kph above the speed of the surrounding traffic and avoid lane splitting over speeds of 50 kph.

LANE SPLITTING

Lane splitting or filtering is also called “white lining” or “stripe riding”. Obviously, that does not include passing outside (on the extreme right) of the line of traffic. That is overtaking, and different laws apply. Additionally, white lining does not include passing on the inside of traffic. Passing on the soft or hard shoulder is illegal.

Then there are The Road Traffic Regulations contained in the Road Traffic Act 2022 – “General requirements governing manoeuvres. 218.– (1) A driver who wishes to perform a manoeuvre, including … (c) turning left or right into a road or a property bordering on a road, shall ensure that he can perform the manoeuvre without risk of endangering other road users travelling behind or ahead of him or about to pass him, having regard to their position, direction, or speed”. This implies that anyone leaving or entering any main road is assumed culpable in the event of a crash. Of course, there may be contributory negligence.

This is why I become very nervous on entering, but especially, on exiting a roadway or driveway bordering a major roadway. If there is traffic letting you in or out, it can be nigh impossible to see a motorcyclist overtaking the line of stopped traffic or white lining between the traffic. I do my best, amid the cacophony of blaring and angry ‘horny’ drivers, to make that manoeuvre very slowly.

The United Kingdom allows lane splitting. Most places in Canada forbid it.

California allows lane splitting, but several other states allow filtering (riding between lanes only in very slow moving or stopped traffic). In Jamaica, lane splitting and filtering are absolutely essential for commerce and commuting, but our traffic laws do not address the issue. Because white lining is neither allowed nor forbidden, it is mired in controversy and is sometimes the cause of crashes, ire, violence, and lawsuits. I fervently hope that this topic will be addressed in the near future.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com