Is Lane Splitting Legal in Arizona

Arizona has a new law for motorcyclists called ‘Lane Filtering’. This law allows motorcyclists to pass between stopped vehicles under specific circumstances. Let’s understand what this new law means for motorcyclists.

Is Lane Splitting Legal in Arizona?

For many years, motorcyclists have been demanding that they be allowed to pass between stopped vehicles, so that:

Rear-end collisions can be prevented,
Traffic jams can be reduced,
And riders can move safely without being stuck in dangerous traffic.

Arizona ABATE member Michael Infanzone worked closely with legislators to make this law a reality. His efforts led to the approval of Senate Bill 1273, which is now law.

Research shows that when lane filtering is done within certain parameters, it is no more risky than regular motorcycle riding, but it may even reduce the risk slightly.

Arizona’s New ‘Lane Filtering’ Law

Arizona is now the fourth state to allow lane filtering for motorcyclists. But there are some conditions to take advantage of this feature.

Lane Filtering Terms and Conditions:

Speed Limit 45 mph or Less: This rule only applies to roads where the speed limit is 45 mph or less.
Surface Roads Only: Only allowed on roads that have at least two lanes in the same direction.
Vehicles Must Be Completely Stopped: You can only pass between stopped vehicles, not moving vehicles.
Maximum Speed 15 mph: Motorcyclists must maintain a maximum speed of 15 mph when passing between lanes and this practice must be considered safe.

Under what circumstances is lane filtering not allowed?

For two-wheel motorcycles only: Trike, Spyder, Slingshot, and Ural sidecar drivers will not get this feature.
Not allowed on freeways: Lane filtering will not be allowed on freeways, even if there is a traffic jam and the temperature is 115°F.
Not allowed on single-lane roads: Since this rule applies to roads with at least two lanes, driving on bike lanes or shoulders is not allowed.

Lane filtering: Your choice, not mandatory

It is important to note that lane filtering is not a mandatory rule. If you find this process risky, you can avoid doing it.

If you want to adopt it, ask yourself these questions:

Can you keep full control of your bike?
Can you stop the bike within 9 feet at 15 mph?
Can you cross an 8-foot wide barrier in 13 feet at 15 mph?
Have you practiced passing between large vehicles at less than 3 feet?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, we recommend taking a skills improvement course. This course will help you hone your skills.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Arizona Lane Filtering Law

Team Arizona made several announcements on social media about this new law, but many questions are still unclear. Some common questions people ask are:

What happens if I start lane filtering after traffic has stopped, but traffic starts moving again?
Who gets priority when I overtake – the car driver or the motorcyclist?
What to do if a driver becomes aggressive?

The answers to these questions will be clarified over time by local law enforcement agencies. Lane filtering has been in practice for decades in many parts of the world and has become a common practice. We hope to see clarity in Arizona soon.

Conclusion

Lane filtering is completely your choice. It is not mandatory, but if you decide to adopt it, make sure you have enough skills to do it safely.