The Motorcyclist’s Guide to Lane Splitting. Being Safe on the Road.

When we are trip-planning, we always have one key question we want answered. “Is lane splitting legal?” This simple act of riding between lanes during times of slow-moving traffic can shave hours off your ride. We have prepared this guide to help you understand the various state laws around lane splitting so you can be a safe and lawful rider as you travel.Before we dive in, let’s take a moment to define lane splitting and lane filtering.

Lane Splitting (or white lining)

The act of riding a motorcycle between two lanes of traffic. The key here is that both lanes must be moving in the same direction. Riding between two lanes where vehicles are moving in opposite directions is always illegal. And dangerous.

Lane splitting is illegal in most states...

Lane Filtering

The act of riding a motorcycle between two lanes of stopped cars. Basically, this allows motorcycles to travel to the front of the line when other vehicles are stopped at a stoplight.

Let’s start our discussion with the easy states and we will then move on to the trickier ones.

California

California is the only state in the US that legally allows lane splitting. One of the key factors that influenced the passing of this bill is that lane splitting is safer than having motorcycles sit in traffic, as it significantly reduces the chance of being rear-ended.

There are a few general guidelines when doing so:

1. Don’t ride more than 10 mph over the neighboring vehicles
2. Don’t lane split if traffic is moving faster than 30 mph
3. When lane splitting, it is safest to ride between the two left lanes of traffic

There is no better place to split lanes than in The Golden State. Autos are so used to this practice that when they see motorcyclists coming, they part like the Red Sea and let them through.

Next up are the moto-friendly states, Utah and Hawaii.

Utah

Utah allows lane filtering under a few strict conditions:

1. The speed limit can’t be higher than 45 mph. All traffic must be stopped
3. Lane filtering is only allowed between two adjacent lanes traveling in the same direction
4. The motorcyclist can’t be traveling more than 15 mph

Hawaii

Ok – so you’ve rented a motorcycle in Hawaii and need to know the rules of the road. Lanes on the islands tend to be narrow, so lane splitting isn’t allowed.

However, motorcyclists are allowed to use the shoulder to pass stopped traffic. This is permitted only on roads with at least two lanes moving in the same direction.

Washington, Maryland, Oregon, Connecticut, and Washington DC

These states are considering lane filtering or lane splitting regulation changes. Although lane splitting is currently illegal in these areas, the laws may change in the next 12-24 months.

New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Delaware

These states don’t legally allow lane splitting, but they also don’t specifically forbid it. Can you get away with lane splitting in Texas? Sure. Could you get a moving violation? Sure. Take you own chances in these locations. The remaining states specifically outlaw lane splitting.

A friend of mine splits lanes frequently in Illinois, and got away with it for years. However, he was pulled over one time, and the cop just said “you can’t do this”. My friend simply asked “where does it say it’s illegal?”. The cop thought for a moment and gave him a ticket. Filed it under “inappropriate use of lanes”. Whatever that means.