Weaving in and out of lanes is a fairly common driving technique that many aggressive drivers throughout California and the country use to stay ahead. However, there comes a time when this type of driving is considered seriously dangerous and is frowned upon by the law with punitive measures.
As a result, it is important for those in this situation to understand the different reasons why lane weaving is so dangerous and why California law – and many other states – are coming down so hard on this aggressive and sometimes perilous driving tactic. Knowledge is the power and will keep you safe.
Lane Weaving is a Risk
Did you know that nearly eight percent of all car accidents occur due to lane weaving? Sadly, this statistic is true and it indicates the dangerous nature of this driving behavior. Unfortunately, too many people keep weaving in and out of traffic and put other drivers and themselves at a huge risk.
As a result, it is important to understand just why this type of driving is so dangerous and the steps that you can take to minimize your danger. The following situations are all reasons why it is so unwise for you to weave in and out of traffic lanes and why the law in California is stamping out these behaviors.
Increased a Risk of Accidents
By repeatedly changing lanes in an attempt to get a better position in traffic, you increase your chance of serious accidents. First of all, lane weaving causes stress on other drivers near you and makes them uncomfortable. And every time you change lanes, you are disrupting traffic in one way or another, causing a higher risk of accidents if drivers aren’t properly paying attention to others.
As a result, California law and many other states require people to stay in one lane unless they are changing for a specific purpose. For example, people are usually allowed to change their lanes if they are passing slower traffic but are encouraged to pass all of the slow traffic before they change lanes. Generally, drivers are supposed to stay within their lane to decrease the risk of serious accidents.
Produces an Unpredictable Driving Situation
When you weave in and out of traffic and change lanes repeatedly, you are creating a very unpredictable driving situation. People may not know what to expect from you as you drive and may react to you very poorly when you change lanes. On freeways, you’re likely going to be among the same batch of drivers for many miles, meaning you are creating distractions and dangers.
Unfortunately, all of this changing may aggravate your fellow drivers and make them act out aggressively. In many ways, lane weaving is a disease that spreads from one person to the next relatively easily. Unfortunately, this means that you’re creating a very dangerous driving situation that can become exponentially more unpredictable and, if even one person doesn’t pay attention for one second, potentially deadly.
Potential Penalties
When weaving in and out of traffic, you can expect a pretty broad range of potential penalties and issues, such as:
- Heavy fines that may cost hundreds of even thousands of dollars
- Points on your license that may linger for years
- Jail time if you cause any injury
- A reputation that may stain your driving record
This last point can be a real issue if you end up in a car crash situation and a judge knows you from past weaving incidents. They may find you lest trustworthy and punish you more as a result of your actions.
