12 Tips for Motorcycle Lane-Splitting, is it safe and legal in California, 2025?

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and the following is not legal advice. I am not certified in any kind of motor vehicle or safety training, and the following is not any kind of motor vehicle safety training or advice. The following is only my opinion, based on personal experience, and is for entertainment purposes only.

Lane filtering - riding between cars on two lanes going in the same direction, when traffic is stopped or moving slowly. The perfect example is when cars are stopped at a traffic light, and you ride between two lanes going the same direction to the front of the intersection.

Lane splitting - riding between cars on two lanes going in the same direction, when traffic is moving at any speed. A good example is when traffic is moving at 25mph on the highway, and you proceed to lane split at 30mph between traffic. Lane splitting seems to be a broader term to include all different speed scenarios and this is where it can be confusing.

Moving between cars at slow speeds is covered by both terms. Lane filtering covers stopped to slow speeds. Lane splitting covers stopped, slow, and faster speeds.

California defines lane splitting as: 21658.1 (a) 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.

The California Highway Patrol provides safety tips for all motorists:
Consider the total environment when you are lane splitting (this includes the width of lanes, the size of surrounding vehicles, as well as current 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 the other lanes of traffic.
Avoid lane splitting next to large vehicles (big rigs, buses, motorhomes, etc.).
Riding on the shoulder is illegal; it is not considered lane splitting.
Be visible – Avoid remaining in the blind spots of other vehicles or lingering between vehicles.
Help drivers see you by wearing brightly colored/reflective protective gear and using high beams during daylight.

Safety:
Lane splitting could be safer if certain conditions are met. Speed is a major factor that determines whether it could be safer and there are two different types of speed to consider when thinking about lane splitting: 1) Your speed relative to the road. 2) Your speed relative to other vehicles. Research is still ongoing as to what maximum speed relative to the road and other vehicles should be when lane splitting. It may not be safer to lane-split when going above 45mph on the road and it may not be safer to lane split when moving greater than 10mph faster than other vehicles.
Remember, these thresholds are based on research. Once you exceed these thresholds, your odds of suffering an injury or death from lane splitting significantly increase.
If you are below the thresholds, there is still risk for injury or death, and the risk may be less than if you were not lane splitting.
Research is ongoing, so take this with a grain of salt, as these numbers could change up or down in the future.

Beginners Tips
I live and ride in California, so my guide will be centered around California law, CHP safety guidelines, and my personal experiences.

1. Start off slowly with building your skills.
2. If an opening is too narrow, do not stop in between a pair of cars.
3. Whenever possible, be mindful of paint, reflectors, or road imperfections.
4. Get in the habit of lane-splitting between the far two left lanes whenever possible, especially on the highway.
5. Always assume that other drivers may not see you.
6. Be visible when lane-splitting and wear high visibility safety gear.
7. Skip the annoyingly loud exhaust.
8. Be aware of other motorcyclists are approaching from behind you.
9. Don’t try to keep up with other people or groups when lane-splitting.
10. Avoid lane-splitting when it is nighttime, raining, or other conditions make it unsafe.
11. Be aware of traffic lights when lane-splitting to an intersection.
12. Lane-splitting in turns is possible when two or more lanes are turning in the same direction.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro and Disclaimer
0:34 - What is Lane-Splitting/Filtering
1:46 - California Lane Splitting
2:30 - CHP Lane-Splitting Guidelines
3:41 - Is Lane-Splitting Safe?
5:21 - Beginner Tips
5:45 - Tip 1
6:28 - Tip 2
6:53 - Tip 3
7:15 - Tip 4
7:33 - Tip 5
8:36 - Tip 6
8:59 - Tip 7
9:22 - Tip 8
9:42 - Tip 9
10:06 - Tip 10
10:34 - Tip 11
10:57 - Tip 12

Sources:
https://www.chp.ca.gov/Programs-Servi...
https://smarter-usa.org/research/lane...
https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/05/29/...