State-by-State Guide to Lane Splitting in the United States

Lane Splitting 101

Lane splitting, a practice where motorcyclists drive between rows of stopped or slow-moving vehicles, is increasingly in the spotlight among U.S. motorcyclists and policymakers – especially this time of year when the roads are clogged with summer travelers. Interestingly, in the United States, lane splitting is neither explicitly legal nor illegal. That is to say, and as is explained by the American Motorcyclist Association ("AMA"), unless a state’s laws specifically prohibit the practice, no statute states that a motorcyclist cannot "filter," or drive between lanes of slowly moving or stopped traffic. As such, depending on the jurisdiction (and the law enforcement officer on duty), lane splitting can lead to a great deal of confusion for the public. The AMA noted that, according to a May 2019 survey of 13,000 American motorcyclists conducted by LaneSplit.org, a majority (61.1%) thought the practice was legal, while 38.8% said it was illegal. Not surprisingly, the debate over the legality of lane splitting is becoming a hot topic of discussion among state legislators. Since 2011 , 11 states have introduced bills concerning lane splitting. Five states (California, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Nevada) have passed legislation regarding the practice. Notably, however, the lane splitting legislation passed (California in 2016; Utah and Washington in 2017; Nevada in 2019) merely provide a state-sanctioned definition of "lane splitting" and the circumstances under which it is permitted – with California the only state to permit the practice under specified conditions, including travel at 30 mph or less and where traffic is stopped or traveling at 10 mph or less. Notably, no other state has sanctioned lane splitting and instead have regulated lane splitting to a degree or promoted lane sharing as an alternative. Certain states have even prohibited lane splitting through the implementation of fines and penalties, like the $100 fine for engaging in the practice in South Carolina. As previously stated, lane splitting is not illegal in all 50 states. For this reason, before taking part in this practice, bikers are urged to first review the laws and policies governing lane splitting in their respective states and jurisdictions.

California: The State that Started Lane Splitting

California is the only state in the United States with explicit laws permitting lane splitting, and even its motorcycle handbook explains the process. Lane splitting "also called white lining and filtering," explains the California DMV, "is when a motorcyclist rides between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic that is backed up at an intersection or in traffic." Lane splitting can help motorcyclists avoid sitting in traffic and minimize the risks of "rear-end crash" and injury, according to the agency. The DMV says lane splitting may also help motorcyclists "check on the status of other vehicles," but warns that "lane splitting can also expose you to an increased risk of a crash if you lose your balance, drive through debris, strike a pothole or sewer cover or encounter other roadway hazards."
Since the practice was explicitly legalized in 2016 with the passage of California Assembly Bill 51, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles has issued guidelines to help lane splitting motorcyclists understand best practices. "When riding between lanes, allow space to maneuver around vehicles that may stop suddenly and make adjustments to position your motorcycle away from unexpected hazards," the DMV recommends. The agency also advises motorcyclists to "avoid lane splitting near larger vehicles such as trucks, SUVs and busses," as well as vehicles with no rear view mirrors like motorcycles and electric cars. The California DMV warns that larger vehicles may have difficulty judging a motorcycle’s speed, leading them to brake suddenly, or they may not even be aware that a motorcycle is present.
Additionally, states the DMV, motorcyclists engaging in lane splitting "should reduce speed in congested traffic and in areas where there are vehicles at rest." Finally, when lane splitting, it’s always advisable that riders check the road for potholes, debris and other hazards.

States Permitting Lane Filtering

In addition to California, there are nine states which also allow lane filtering, but with various caveats and restrictions not present in California.
Arizona
Though Arizona allows for filtering, the practice isn’t as clearly defined as it is in California. The law does prohibit motorcycles from passing vehicles in general, though this doesn’t appear to be enforced, so long as filtering occurs slowly, and with a significant amount of space. Other than this, there are no specific regulations in Arizona.
NEVADA
Similar to Arizona, Nevada law does not specifically allow filtering, but does not state that motorcyclists can’t filter. That said, filtering is allowed "if the rider considers it safe," but without further specification, this could be a somewhat subjective determination.
TEXAS
Texas law contains a definition of lane splitting, though it is unclear if this was ever intended to be enforced. At most, it appears that filtering is allowed, but only if "each lane is clearly marked by painted lines." No further information on speed or distance is offered.
TENNESSEE
Filtering is technically allowed in Tennessee, but is limited to circumstances where traffic is at a complete standstill. It is worth noting that other sources have stated that filtering has been banned in general.
FLORIDA
As recently as 2016, Florida law explicitly outlawed lane splitting. Since then, however, the state has apparently softened, as the practice is now officially "permitted when safe."
COLORADO
Very similar to Nevada, Colorado law does not allow filtering specifically, but simply makes no mention of it in the definition of "passing." It may be safe to assume that Colorado law enforcement officials would allow the practice, but it’s hard to say for certain.
Hawaii
Though Hawaii may seem like a place that would absolutely permit filtering, given its high number of motorcycles per person, the lower speed limits and heavy traffic within cities like Honolulu would indicate otherwise. Indeed, Hawaii law stipulates that while filtering is legal, it is only "between lanes at an intersection" where filtering is at its slowest, and when a person riding a motorcycle "normally travels."
MAINE
Maine law likewise allows filtering, but only at "intersections where other vehicles are stopped."

States with No Clear-Laws against Lane Splitting

Many states have not taken a definitive stance on lane splitting, resulting in a potentially significant grey area for their motorcyclists. For many, the lack of a clear cut rule book may lead to law-abiding bikers finding it difficult to know if they can legally lane split in their jurisdiction. While some of these states officially guarantee that the maneuver is not explicitly outlawed, thereby ensuring a happy medium to be reached, others prefer to adopt a more hands-off approach toward the issue.
Some of these zones without definitive laws include the likes of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. While some of these areas have more progressive traffic departments than others, the overall narrative is that there is no explicit legal basis for or against lane splitting. In more attenuated terms, the laws governing how to handle lane splitting are largely nonexistent, creating a situation where the police officer has free reign to determine whether or not to issue a ticket to a lane splitter.
The most optimal scenario for a biker is to brush up on the state’s overarching laws regarding fluid traffic patterns and safe conduct, while trusting that the officer who pulls them over understands the nuances of lane splitting law as well as they do. However, until clear parameters exist, these states may be just as risky in the eyes of the law as those states where lane splitting is explicitly illegal.

States where Lane Splitting is Outlawed

While a growing number of states have enacted laws permitting and driving lanesplitting, the following states have laws that explicitly prohibit the practice:
Alabama
No Alabama law describes lane splitting or splitting lanes as such, however, Section 32-5A-211 prohibits any motorcycle operator from driving between lanes of traffic. Violators of this law can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Georgia
Even though Georgia does not specifically address lane splitting, Georgia law does state that motorcyclists may only legally ride between lanes of traffic if it is consistent with safe operations of the motorcycle. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000.
Kentucky
Although no law specifically addresses lane splitting or lane splitting, Kentucky law is very clear in that any motor vehicle may not be driven between lanes of traffic. The penalty for violating this law is a fine of not less than $20 or more than $100.
Louisiana
Louisiana law does not define the term "to split lanes." However, Louisiana law does prohibit a person from operating a motorcycle on a roadway in a manner whereby the motorcycle travels between vehicles as our words are divided. Violating this law carries a fine of up to $175.
Minnesota
Under Minnesota law , a person may not operate a motorcycle while riding between lanes of traffic or between vehicles moving in the same direction. A violation of the law carries a fine of $100.
Mississippi
Under Mississippi law, a person may not operate a motorcycle in such a way that the motorcyclist drives the motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between vehicles moving in the same direction. A violation of this law carries penalties of up to $100.
Missouri
While Missouri law does not specifically describe the practice of lane splitting as lane splitting, Missouri law does make it unlawful for any person to operate a motorcycle on a roadway other than as far right as practicable if the roadway consists of three or more lanes. Violating this law carries a fine of up to $100.
Tennessee
Tennessee law does not indicate that lane splitting is legal or illegal. However, Tennessee law does prohibit a person operating a motorcycle from traveling between lanes of traffic or between vehicles moving in the same direction. Any person violating the provisions of this law is subject to a fine of $50.

The Effect of Lane Splitting on Safety

Being able to split lanes is a great benefit for any motorcycle rider. If the rider has a small space to work with, the space opens up significantly as they pass through the line of stopped or slow traffic. In the case of a major accident, motorcyclists may be able to escape the scenario before it even happens. But this does not mean they are automatically safe on the road.
The United States does not have intrinsic lane splitting laws. That is, there’s no law that covers the entire country. Rather, states and even some localities can make their own decisions on the issue.
Some have dedicated laws on lane splitting. Others don’t. Some have ordinances, and some just leave it up to the discretion of motorists on how to handle it.
Lane splitting laws impact many aspects of motorcycle riding each and every day across the United States. They affect how many motorcycles are on the road at a given time, which in turn affects traffic patterns, thousands of drivers each and every year, and many other factors. Includes a rider’s personal safety and intuitive judgment.
Accident studies and traffic pattern studies have shown that splitting lanes leads to fewer accidents and injuries. When riders are allowed to pass through stopped traffic, they do so narrowly, and as such they are much safer if there were to split lanes in fast traffic. Many proponents of lane splitting cite this fact, leading to further legalization.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supports lane splitting. They say it reduces the probability of injury by 29 percent for motorcyclists. They have statistics to back this up as well. A number of state, local, and national safety administrations agree that lane splitting does make it safer for riders in many situations. But that doesn’t mean it’s safe all the time.
It has been shown that motorcyclists still have an understanding of surrounding traffic, and some of it is still intuitive. If it’s late at night, a rider is much less likely to try to split lanes. There’s a great deal of common sense during the process. As such they are able to push the limits of their safety instincts, meaning that there are very few accidents when comparing lane-splitting to non-lane splitting situations.
Of course the key lies in following the law, which is generally designed for safety. They also must be heeded – meaning that law enforcement must follow lane splitting laws as they would for anybody else on the road. Likewise, ignoring traffic signals and lanes is also dangerous, and would only create additional problems for drivers of larger vehicles as well as motorcyclists. As such, there are reactions from law enforcement to lane splitting that can negatively impact rider safety.
Lane splitting is perfectly legal in California, and therefore applies to anyone who rides there. It is not considered illegal or to be motorcycle operation in hazardous conditions. In addition, it also applies to Moped drivers who are 16 years or older. Essentially, if you’re on two wheels and able to control the operator or there’s no signal, you are free to split lanes.
Lane splitting allows people to get where they need to go much more safely, depending on some conditions. It significantly improves traffic conditions, and the safety of a motorcycle rider if done properly, and within a legal framework.

Lobbying and Legislative Developments

Currently, there are no specific federal laws regulating lane splitting. As a result, most of the lane splitting legislation appears at the state level. No states have implemented statutes since 2019 when Montana voted to ban lane splitting in response to increased rider fatalities. In 2021, there were three one-liner bills (pre-filed) introduced in the state of New York calling for the state to approve lane splitting. Neither has made it farther than committee. In 2022, similar legislation was again filed in New York to introduce lane splitting into state law. There were also legislation proposals in Michigan and Florida to ban lane splitting as of 2022, showing that organizations opposing lane splitting are active at state-level as well.
Additionally, there are lobbying efforts by organizations such as the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the National Motorists Association (NMA) to fight lane splitting bans and push for the legalization of lane splitting in states where it is not already legal. The AMA has been involved in legislative efforts surrounding lane splitting in numerous states, including California, South Carolina, and Massachusetts. However, their efforts have mainly focused on encouraging states with existing laws to maintain or enhance them rather than pushing for new legislation. The NMA has lobbied to ban lane splitting and change state traffic laws to limit where lane splitting is allowed.

Conclusions and Future Trends

The future of lane splitting laws in the United States will largely depend on the ever-changing landscape of traffic congestion and transportation needs. As more people move to urban areas and the number of vehicles on the road continues to increase, the need for innovative solutions to alleviate traffic jams will be more pressing than ever. Lane splitting, by allowing riders to maneuver around stagnant traffic, can help ease congestion and reduce frustration for all motorists .
The key points of this article are that lane splitting is a controversial and complex practice in the United States, with varying regulations in different states. As more states consider following California’s lead in legalizing the practice, consideration of the rights and safety of both riders and other motorists will remain at the forefront of ongoing discussions.