{"id":3015,"date":"2017-09-21T07:35:28","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T14:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/?page_id=3015"},"modified":"2024-03-27T09:25:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T16:25:30","slug":"is-lane-splitting-legal-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/blog\/is-lane-splitting-legal-in-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Lane Splitting Legal in Arizona?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

From scenic drives to the thrill of speed, owning a motorcycle offers many exciting advantages. However, many motorcycle owners specifically enjoy the convenience of navigating traffic more easily by moving through lanes and in between cars.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are one of these avid motorcycle enthusiasts in the Grand Canyon state, one of the first questions you\u2019ll likely ask yourself is\u2014is lane splitting legal in Arizona? This guide covers Arizona\u2019s laws surrounding lane splitting and whether you can get away with weaving in between cars while on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Lane Splitting?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lane splitting is the act of riding a bicycle or motorcycle between lanes or rows of traffic moving in the same direction. By the definition of lane splitting, both the motorcycle and traffic are moving in the process. Lane splitting may also be referred to as; white lining, filtering, stripe lining or lane sharing.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that lane splitting is often confused with lane filtering, which is different. Lane filtering is the act of moving in between cars that are stopped while maintaining a slow speed. These acts are treated differently under the law.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lane splitting is common in traffic-dense urban areas\u2013it saves time and allows motorcycles to bypass other cars. However, that doesn\u2019t make it safe. There are many risks involved with lane splitting, especially when traffic is moving at high speeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The act of lane splitting often requires quick maneuvers from motorcyclists, moving through drivers\u2019 blind spots, and forcing extra awareness from drivers. As a result, lane splitting can be dangerous for both motorcyclists and drivers and increase the risk of accidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Lane Splitting Legal in Arizona?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lane splitting is not legal in Arizona, as outlined clearly in <\/span>A.R.S. 28-903<\/span><\/a>. The law clearly states that \u201ca person shall not operate a motorcycle between the lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The law also states that motorcyclists have the right to use a full lane. Motorcyclists may also share a lane side-by-side as long as there are no more than two riders in parallel and both riders have mutually agreed to share the lane. Even while lane sharing, though, motorcyclists must follow the flow of traffic and must not move in between cars and split lanes to pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Lane Filtering Legal in Arizona?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lane filtering is a separate practice and involves moving in between lanes of traffic when other vehicles are stopped. Because other vehicles are not moving around the motorcyclist, the act is much safer than lane-splitting and often is looked upon more favorably under states\u2019 laws.<\/span> As of 2022<\/span><\/a>, Arizona law allows motorcyclists to lane filter under<\/span> Arizona Senate Bill 1273<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The law allows lane filtering under the following conditions:<\/span><\/p>\n