Can Motorcycles Split Lanes in Arizona?

Bikers may wonder, “can motorcycles split lanes in Arizona?” Under the state’s laws, motorcycles cannot split lanes in Arizona. You could receive a ticket from law enforcement for lane splitting. And if you are injured while lane splitting, the other party’s insurance company may use it as evidence that you contributed to the accident and your injuries.

However, while similar to lane splitting, lane filtering is explicitly legal in Arizona as of 2022. If you were injured while lane filtering, you may have a solid defense against the at-fault party’s claims that you contributed to your injuries. So, understanding the difference between lane splitting and filtering is crucial.

What’s the Difference Between Lane Splitting and Filtering?

The key difference between lane splitting and filtering has to do with the speed at which and the circumstances under which you are riding the line between lanes of traffic:

• Lane Splitting – This is when a motorcycle rider operates their vehicle at regular speeds between two lanes of traffic heading in the same direction.
• Lane Filtering – This is when a motorcycle rider operates their vehicle at low speeds between stopped or slowed lanes of traffic headed in the same direction on certain roads.

Arizona’s motorcycle operation law states that lane filtering is allowed as long as your speed does not exceed 15 miles per hour and the road you are traveling on has a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less. This means you must be traveling at a safe speed to pass even slower or stopped vehicles and cannot do so on highways or other high-speed roads.

How Lane Filtering Can Be Safer

In some cases, lane filtering can be safer for riders than staying in their lane. One example is when there is heavy traffic. Stop-and-go traffic can increase the likelihood of a rear-end collision, and riders are more susceptible to injury in these types of accidents.

Additionally, when waiting at a red light, drivers coming up from behind the motorcycle may not see it and instead only see the rear lights of the vehicle in front of the motorcycle. This can cause them to crash into the motorcycle, injuring the rider. However, if the rider safely filters to the front of the queue at the red light, they can avoid being struck from behind.

It’s important for riders to always be alert when lane filtering, in case other motorists don’t see them coming and change lanes into them or directly in front of them. Or, in some cases, aggressive drivers may intentionally attempt to block riders from passing because they don’t know about the legality of lane filtering.

What If I Get in an Accident on My Motorcycle While Lane Splitting?

If you get in a motorcycle accident while lane splitting, the other driver’s insurance company will likely claim you were at least partly at fault for the collision. This could result in reduced compensation for your injuries.

Arizona follows a comparative negligence law that reduces the compensation a victim can receive through a trial award by a percentage equal to their degree of fault. For example, if the jury finds that your lane splitting makes you 40 percent at fault for the accident, you would only be able to recover 60 percent of your awarded compensation.

While this law only applies to compensation awarded at trial, an auto insurance company is unlikely to offer a claim settlement worth more than it believes you would receive from a jury.

If you were injured in an Arizona lane-splitting motorcycle accident, contact Law Tigers for a free case evaluation. We’ll review the accident details and help you identify the party or parties that may be at fault for your injuries, including the motorist who struck you or caused you to crash by blocking your path.