To a motorcyclist, lane-splitting might seem like the most logical choice. If the traffic is very slow moving or if it’s stopped altogether, a motorcyclist might see the benefit in passing between these vehicles and moving out of the traffic without a problem.
Some motorcyclists would even argue that lane splitting helps ease congestion on high-traffic roads, where smaller vehicles (motorcycles) can pass through without much problems for the overall stalled traffic.
However, the law and traffic safety considerations don’t see things the same way. As such, lane splitting is illegal in Oklahoma. In fact, lane splitting is not legal in most states.
The reason for this is simple. The law doesn’t see merit in the arguments made by motorcyclists. Indeed, it is suggested that lane splitting can be the likely cause of a higher number of accidents on the road.
Lane splitting by motorcyclists can lead to the possibility of speeding or damaging cars on the road by accidentally clipping car mirrors. Also, in this situation, there is a chance that the vehicle owner may not notice the motorcyclist, thus increasing the chances of an accident.
Going with the same situation, there’s a possibility that the lane-splitting motorcycle might cause a vehicle driver to swerve or slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the motorcycle. An event like this might create a situation where motorcyclists cause accidents between cars, without the motorcyclist being explicitly involved.
The point is simple, predictability while on the road is important. Motorists should be able to predict the movement and actions of motorcyclists. Lane-splitting makes this rather difficult. Also, lane-splitting motorcyclists add more chaos to what might be an already chaotic or stressful situation with the traffic.
The only exception for lane-splitting in Oklahoma is for authorized emergency vehicles, like a police vehicle.
However, for the average rider, lane-splitting remains illegal. This includes riders on motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters.