Lane-splitters can get creative to warn you

QThis past week I was driving on westbound Interstate 80 in Berkeley at around 3:30 p.m. on a weekday. I was in the lane next to the diamond lane. I looked in my rearview mirror. A motorcycle was lane splitting between the diamond lane and my lane. OK, no problem? Right.

Not sure why you would lanesplit when there are two lanes traveling at different speeds. This rider had on a green safety vest, similar to those used in some European countries for police and safety officers. Again no problem? Wrong.

The motorcycle had two bright amber-greenish lights that were flashing. Yes, you could see the lights and the motorcycle. However, from what I could tell, he was not law enforcement. I just want to know if it is acceptable on California highways to use flashing lights on a non-law enforcement motorcycle. — John Caldwell, El Sobrante

AHeadlights must be green or yellow. However, there are cases, such as lane splitting, when riders may use other ways to make themselves more visible. These may include the use of different colored lights which is not recommended, but it happens.

Using turn signals as warning devices is a different issue, advises Bruce-the-former-traffic-cop. “We have all seen motorcyclists lane splitting and using their four-way-flashers as warning devices to help alert drivers of their approach. Not a bad idea, really, but not legal, either, in my opinion,” he said. Q

A legal question for you to sort out. I have a handicap placard for my use. A friend I occasionally ride with has one in the car for his wife. Is it legal for him to put up her placard when she is not there and I use my certification paperwork that I got with my placard? In short, will my paperwork validate the use of her placard? — Richard Steele, Hollister

A

No. In order for you to use a handicap placard, the ID number on the placard must match the number on the certification paperwork provided when your placard was issued.

Q

In San Jose, driving south on Highway 87 to make the turn onto Highway 280 north, there is a sharp curve. Repeatedly, the yellow sand barrels are crushed where someone has been going too fast, missed the turn and hit the barrels. On the approach to the turn, there should be signs telling people to slow for the curve. Can Caltrans put slow curve ahead signs there?

A

Thanks for flagging this. The 87-280 interchange gets a lot of complaints. Caltrans has received your complaint and will look into it to make some improvements later this year.