In 2022, legislators passed a new law in Arizona that permits motorcyclists to lane filter for the first time. Within certain parameters, two-wheeled motorcycles can now drive on the line between two lanes of same-direction traffic to pass stopped vehicles. Lane filtering must be done safely, prudently and within the confines of Arizona law.
Is Lane Filtering Permitted in Arizona?
Yes. Senate Bill 1273 amended Arizona’s existing statutes to legalize lane filtering. This Act made Arizona the fourth state to offer this option to motorcyclists. The amended Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-903(f) now reads:
- The operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle may overtake and pass another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel and in the same lane as the operator and may operate the motorcycle between lanes of traffic if the movement may be made safely and if the operator does both of the following:
- Operates the motorcycle on a street that both:
- is divided into at least two adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel.
- has a speed limit that does not exceed forty-five miles per hour.
- Travels at a speed that does not exceed fifteen miles per hour.
As long as the speed limit is 45 miles per hour or less, the other vehicles are at a complete stop, the road has two or more adjacent lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, and the maneuver can be performed safely, a motorcyclist in Arizona may lane filter.
Lane Filtering vs. Lane Splitting
While the two terms are often used interchangeably, lane filtering is not the same as lane splitting. Lane filtering refers to a motorcyclist traveling between two lanes of stopped traffic, while lane splitting occurs when traffic is in motion. In Arizona, lane splitting remains illegal. The state’s motorcycle operation laws prohibit overtaking and passing other vehicles in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.
Is Lane Filtering Safe?
Many critics debate whether or not lane splitting is safe. The American Motorcyclist Association endorses lane splitting, citing its “long-term success in California” and referencing the original University of California Berkeley study that found lane splitting to enhance motorcyclist safety when done responsibly.
Lane filtering is generally viewed as safer than lane splitting, since the vehicles surrounding the motorcyclist are stationary. This can reduce the risk of a motor vehicle driver merging on top of a lane-filtering motorcyclist, sideswiping the motorcyclist, or becoming startled by the motorcycle and jerking the steering wheel.
Who Pays for an Accident Involving Lane Filtering in Arizona?
If a motorcycle accident occurs while a motorcyclist is lane filtering, an investigation will need to be conducted to determine the cause of the crash. If the motorcyclist was behaving prudently and obeying Arizona’s lane-filtering laws, the motor vehicle driver may be found at fault for actions such as distracted driving or making an unsafe lane change.
If, however, the motorcyclist was in violation of the lane-filtering law – for example, if he or she rode between two lanes of moving traffic – the rider may be held responsible for a subsequent accident. Arizona is a fault-based state, meaning the individual at fault for causing the crash will be held liable, or financially responsible, for the victim’s expenses.
Arizona’s comparative negligence law permits an injured accident victim to recover compensation despite being allocated a portion of fault. This means that both a motorcyclist and a motor vehicle driver could share fault for an accident and each party could still receive partial compensation.
For more information about Arizona’s lane-filtering law, contact The Law Offices of John Phebus Glendale Criminal and Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation.