Riding and The Law Four Laws Currently Affecting Riders Nationwide
Riding
your motorcycle and the freedom that comes with it is the best feeling
in the world; but comes with a lot of responsibility. Yes, riding can be
dangerous, but abiding by state motorcycle laws will help you to be as
safe a rider as possible—and keep you clear of tickets. There are a
number of laws currently affecting riders in the country, and this week
we’re taking a closer look at four topics: helmet usage, E15 fuel, lane
splitting, and faulty traffic lights – including an update on your
faulty traffic light submissions!
Should Riders be Required by Law to Wear Helmets? Debates
are currently taking place all over the country regarding the use of
motorcycle helmets. North Carolina lawmakers are considering repealing a
helmet law that requires all riders to wear a helmet at all times.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North
Carolina is ranked #1 in the nation for motorcyclists lives saved due to
helmet wear. As of now, 19 other states have helmet laws as strict as
North Carolina’s.
Nebraska is one of those 19 states, and
Senator Dave Bloomfield is trying to change that. Advocates for
repealing the Nebraska law cite “freedom of choice” and claim the state
is missing out on millions of tourism dollars because riders who don’t
like to wear helmets don’t ride through the state. Proponents of the law
say the money gained on tourism would go toward the medical bills of
underinsured riders who suffer head injuries as a result of not wearing a
helmet.
We understand that many riders want to reserve to
right to choose whether or not they wear helmets. While we appreciate
and support the right to make your own safety decisions, Eagle Leather
does promote helmet usage for a safer ride. Check out our recent blog: Seven Traits of a Safe Riding Helmet! EPA Says “Not Yet” to E15 Fuel A
little over a month ago, U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner
introduced a bill to congress that would require the Environmental
Protection Agency to suspend the sale of E15 gasoline until the
gasoline-ethanol blend is subjected to further testing. The American
Motorcyclist Association cites possible damage to motorcycle and ATV
engines when using E15 gasoline and expects those problems to increase
if E15 becomes more widely available. To date, the EPA has not approved
the use of E15 in motorcycles, only 2001 and newer light-duty cars,
trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles have been approved. The AMA
wants motorcycles and ATVs to be a part of any significant studies done
on E15 moving forward to ensure the safety of its use.
California’s Lane-Splitting Dilemma If
you live in California, the only state in the country where
lane-splitting (the act of driving between cars driving side by side in
separate lanes) is legal, chances are you’ve tried it at least once. It
can mean beating traffic and avoiding heavy commutes for many riders,
but many California motorists believe the act is too dangerous to be
taking place on California roads and highways. Motorcycle safety critics
have deemed lane-splitting unsafe, and it became a controversial enough
issue for the California Highway Patrol to weigh in. Their verdict:
it’s legal and you cannot get ticketed for it—but only if done safely. According to the LA Times, The California Highway Patrol defines safe lane-splitting by the criteria listed below:
“1. A motorcyclist should split lanes at no more than 10 mph above traffic speed. 2. A motorcyclist should not split lanes when traffic is moving at more than 30 mph. 3. A motorcyclist should split lanes using the space between the No. 1 and No. 2 lanes.”
These
three guidelines took seven years for state officials to agree on. And
while they are merely guidelines, not official laws, breaking them could
get you a reckless riding ticket!
Washington Traffic Light Update! We have an update on your traffic light submissions!
We received information from the Washington State Department of
Transportation last week that indicated the state government would be
allocating resources to inspect a number of traffic intersections,
specifically the circular vehicle sensors beneath the pavement, which
signal the light to turn green.
“Existing detection
equipment adjustment can sometimes adequately improve detection,”
explained Bart Treece, a Communications representative for the WSDOT, in
an email to Eagle Leather. “Our signal maintenance department will
investigate these locations and, as much as possible, adjust the
detectors to sense the presence of motorcycles. When they are not
visible, the best place for a motorcycle would be in the center of the
lane within about one foot of the stop bar.” Treece further detailed
the WSDOT’s plans for the improvement and maintenance of the reported
intersections, explaining that, “the technology for reliably and cost
effectively detecting vehicles with low metal content in all weather
conditions is still developing. Sometimes, detection equipment
replacement can help and is needed. These locations will be tagged for
future improvement as technology improves and funds become available.”
We’d
like to thank every rider who submitted a problem intersection to Eagle
Leather, and we hope our efforts result in your intersections being
inspected and repaired soon!
Sound off on your opinions
about helmet wear, E15, lane-splitting, traffic light sensor
inspections, and any other motorcycle laws or regulations that affect
your ride on the Eagle Leather Facebook page!
Yet, there’s no denying it: Unless you plan to ride exclusively around the Southern United States, you’ll face some chilly winters. And even before it...
Riding and The Law
