Does Lane Filtering Actually Reduce Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcyclists threading their way between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction has long been a defining aspect of the two-wheeled experience in California

Known as “lane splitting,” this traffic strategy has never really broken out to be accepted outside of the Golden State. However, its more sanitized cousin – “lane filtering” – is becoming all the rage, rapidly spreading throughout the nation.

Similar in concept to lane splitting only confined to situations where traffic is either stopped or moving extremely slowly, lane filtering has recently been made legal in several states (Utah (2019), Montana (2021), Arizona (2022), Colorado (2024), and Minnesota (2025). Additionally, it is tacitly allowed in more than a dozen other states with several others, including Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, now considering similar laws of their own.

Why Lane Filtering? Is it Really Safer?

There is an obvious convenience factor associated with lane filtering: it speeds up traffic. And yes, the motorcyclists who slice through traffic jams are the biggest winners in this regard, however, everyone benefits. For every motorcycle removed from the established lanes, everyone else gets bumped up that many spots in line.

It also has the added advantage of preventing owners of air-cooled machines from being stranded on overheated machines.

But these are not the most important considerations when it comes to the decision whether or not to implement lane filtering. The real question here is one of safety.

Lane filtering is presented as the safer option, as it removes motorcyclists from the danger zone where they are most likely to be rear-ended, it improves visibility at intersections, and reduces the possibility of being sandwiched between two vehicles. 

But What Do the Numbers Actually Say?

When it comes to lane filtering, the simple fact is we need more studies that specifically consider the act to be able to speak with any sort of certainty.

The biggest and best known related study was conducted in California back in 2015, where it focused on the impact of lane splitting and motorcycle safety. 

“Motorcycle Lane-splitting and Safety in California,” by Thomas Rice, PhD, Lara Troszak, MA, and Taryn Erhardt of the University of California Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research & Education Center is frequently referenced when considering the relative merits of lane splitting and/or filtering.

The study looked at nearly 6000 motorcycle accidents involving traffic collisions, examined whether or not they were lane splitting at the time, and how that impacted the types and severity of the resultant injuries.

In brief, they found that 17% were lane splitting at the time of the accident. And those who lane spltting were much less likely to have been involved in a collision where they were rear-ended by other vehicles (2.6% vs. 4.6%). However, on the flip side, they were far more likely to have rear-ended another vehicle (38% vs. 16%).

And, on the whole, injuries suffered while lane splitting were less likely and less severe. The possibility of fatality was reduced (1.2% vs. 3%), as were head injuries (9% vs. 17%), torso injuries (19% vs. 29%), and injuries to the extremities (60% vs 66%), while neck injuries were equally likely in either type.

In particular, the study found that lane splitting was a relatively safe practice when traffic speeds were less than 50 miles per hour and the motorcycle was not travelling more than 15mph faster than standard traffic.

The good news here is that lane filtering requires even more conservative speeds. Laws vary by state, but typical regulations allow lane filtering when traffic is moving at 10mph or less, while limiting motorcycles to 15-25mph, which seems to suggest that lane filtering should prove even safer still.

That “should” is doing an awful lot of work, however, and further studies of the type are needed to get a better picture on a practice that has a lot of momentum and stands to impact thousands of motorcyclists nationwide. 

Be Smart. Be Safe.

Traffic jams are highly stressed situations where road rage is the most likely to rear its ugly head. Drivers change lanes unpredictable and get enraged if they feel as if someone else is “cheating,” or they think they’ve been cut off. 

Therefore, lane filtering is a tactic best utilized by more experienced, defensive riders, with high levels of situation awareness. It will also prove most effective and safest where it is understood and accepted by the drivers of other vehicles, and that’s going to take time.

As always, gear up properly, use caution, ride courteously, and rely on your best instincts to consider when and where lane filtering is the right option, even when legal.

If you were injured while lane filtering or involved in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted or careless driver, you do not have to handle the aftermath alone. Insurance companies often try to blame riders first — especially in crashes involving lane filtering or lane sharing situations.

Law Tigers helps connect injured riders with experienced motorcycle accident attorneys who understand rider rights, motorcycle laws, and the unique challenges motorcyclists face after a crash. Whether you are dealing with medical bills, lost wages, bike damage, or insurance disputes, help may be available.

Contact Law Tigers today for a free motorcycle accident consultation and learn what legal options may be available after your accident.