On a freeway, a motorcyclist moves between moving cars to get around rush hour traffic. What you’re seeing is called “lane splitting.” But in Arizona, “lane splitting” is against the law. It’s also dangerous and can cause road rage.
Splitting lanes is against the law, but Arizona approved lane filtering two years ago, which is not the same thing. Lane filtering lets riders slowly move between cars that have stopped at a red light, which lets them get to the front of the line.
The law is meant to protect motorcyclists by stopping rear-end accidents.
Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff Michael Redman told On Your Side, “You (motorcyclists) are going to be stuck between those cars, so it’s safer for that bike to be in front of that traffic.”
Some motorcycle riders may think they can also split lanes on the freeway because of how Deputy Redman, a motorcycle cop, interprets the law.
The deputy said, “I see it all the time.” “I see it on all the Valley freeways in the metro Phoenix area even when I’m not working.”
In one film, a motorcycle rider from Phoenix is so sure of himself that he uses the move to get past an Arizona DPS trooper’s truck on the highway. In the end, the policeman does stop the rider and tells him the news. “You can’t lane split,” the police officer is heard telling the biker.
Joe Brown is a lawyer for Law Tigers, a company that helps riders who have been hurt.
Some motorcycle riders may think they can also split lanes on the freeway because of how Deputy Redman, a motorcycle cop, interprets the law.
The deputy said, “I see it all the time.” “I see it on all the Valley freeways in the metro Phoenix area even when I’m not working.”
In one film, a motorcycle rider from Phoenix is so sure of himself that he uses the move to get past an Arizona DPS trooper’s truck on the highway. In the end, the policeman does stop the rider and tells him the news. “You can’t lane split,” the police officer is heard telling the biker.
Joe Brown is a lawyer for Law Tigers, a company that helps riders who have been hurt.
To properly use lane filtering, you must follow certain rules. For instance, all traffic must stop, the speed limit cannot be higher than 45 miles per hour, the road must have at least two lanes going in the same way, and the motorcycle must not be going faster than 15 miles per hour.
