Since posting our Truth About Lane-Splitting article one year ago, we’ve been waiting for UC Berkeley to complete its lane-splitting-specific study on the safety aspects of the practice. Recently, a preliminary report “Safety implications of lane-splitting among California motorcyclists involved in collisions” was released. The full report is scheduled for public consumption by the first of the next year, but the preliminary report sheds some light on the safety of lane-splitting in California.

Conducted between June 2012 and August 2013 the report focused on approximately 8,000 motorcyclists and whether the motorcyclist was lane-splitting and whether the lane-splitting was done within the components of proposed lane-splitting guidelines. The data collected included driver license status, whether the motorcyclist was lane-splitting, speed of the motorcycle, speed of surrounding traffic, helmet type, helmet standard labeling (DOT, Snell, etc), helmet damage, helmet retention, body region injured, fatality status, whether the rider was transported by EMS, BAC, and the use of high visibility or reflective gear.

In the report, lane-splitting motorcyclists are referred to as LSM. Here’s what the report has to say regarding the safety of lane-splitting and those who participate in the practice.