Lane-Splitting Legislation Spreading in 2015

For decades, lane-splitting has only been legal in California (and most of the rest of the world.) But that could soon change, thanks to lane-splitting legislation being introduced in several states. Is yours one of them? Read on and get the details below!

Writing for the motorcycle industry, I’ve learned that there are certain hot-button issues that the riding community is very divided over. Whether or not helmets should be required by law, what kinds of exhaust modifications should be allowed, and if motorcycles should be able to pass through dead red lights legally are just a few of the issues that bring out strong opinions from riders. And it’s not just opinions that vary from one rider to another on issues like these; the laws pertaining to them also vary widely from state to state, making them not only controversial – but confusing!

But in the riding community as a whole, there is probably no issue more controversial than that of splitting lanes. American riders have strong opinions about the practice that is illegal in every U.S. state (and only de facto legal in California), but allowed virtually everywhere else in the world.

A rider splitting lanes in Southern California. If some of the bills being considered actually pass, you may see this begin to happen in your state too.

Lane splitting has a number of proven benefits; riders can get where they are going faster, are less exposed to extreme temperatures or harsh weather, and can prevent damage to the air-cooled engines on many bikes, all while traffic congestion becomes relieved for drivers overall. And it’s not just a matter of practicality, but one of safety; a study commissioned by the California Highway Patrol last year showed that riders who split lanes are significantly less likely to experience a rear-end collision, suffer head injury, or be involved in a fatal crash.

But even though riders here in the Golden State and in foreign countries have been doing it regularly for decades, the rest of the U.S. has historically taken a firm stance against it. Reasons for doing so range from concerns about safety, to push-back from auto drivers who don’t appreciate being “cut in line” by motorcycles.

However, it appears that opinions about lane-splitting, at least in some parts of the country, may actually be starting to change. A handful of states currently have lane-splitting legislation being debated, and there appears to be a widening of support for these laws among lawmakers. At this time, Oregon, Washington, and Tennessee all have some form of lane-splitting law being considered in state legislatures.

This chart shows where lane-splitting bills are currently being considered, and the circumstances under which it would be permitted in each version of the law.

But the most noteworthy push for a lane-splitting law is taking place in the nation’s second most populous state – Texas. Two forms of lane-splitting legislation are currently being considered in the Lone Star state: a house bill that would allow splitting when traffic is moving at less than 20 MPH at no more than 5 MPH faster than the flow of traffic, and a senate bill that would permit splitting on controlled-access highways.

The Texas bills are significant because of the sheer size of the state, and the potential “domino effect” that a law there could have in influencing surrounding states to adopt similar legislation. Even as large as California is, it’s become the norm to consider the state as the “oddball” place where lane-splitting has somehow slipped through the cracks (which is essentially how the practice came about here.)

But for the nation’s second largest state to actually consider and pass a law permitting the practice would be a huge victory for proponents of lane-splitting; and more importantly, a great way to test how adopting lane-splitting in a place nothistorically accustomed to it would work in the real world.

So what do you think? If any of these bills pass, will they turn out to be huge victories for motorcycle riders – or will they create traffic nightmares that will cause more problems than they fix?