Lane splitting has been quasi legal in California for a long time now, i've noticed that depending on which part of California I'm riding in lane splitting can be reasonably safe, or an a$$ puckering experience, Here in the bay area where I live, most people are used to seeing motorcyclists splitting lanes and will move over if and when they see you coming. However I have ridden in the Los Angeles area as well, I noticed that the lanes are more narrow there than they are here and the drivers are much less courteous and would even attempt to keep me from passing.
Every day on the radio I hear about at least one motorcycle involved incident on the bay area freeways. It is my opinion though not proven to be fact that the majority of these accidents involve sport bike riders who most of the time are not lanes splitting safely but are zipping through traffic at a high rate of speed, motorists never even hear or see them coming before it's too late.
I have been lane splitting for years I always do it carefully, I never go more than five Mph or so faster than the cars are moving. And if traffic is moving along at 30 miles an hour or better I Generally don't lane split at all. And all these years I have only had one incident and that was on my rocket three touring where I clipped a guys mirror as I went by.
I still get nervous every time I do it though.
It never ceases to amaze me what I see people doing as I'm passing them, cellphones, iPads, newspapers, looking down into their lap at something while not even looking where they're going.
Eating cheeseburgers while looking at their cell phones...., the list goes on and on.
