During two legislative sessions, IIAV has fought to prevent motorcycle lane splitting from becoming legal in Virginia. The motorcycle industry has been aggressive in getting lane splitting/filtering legal. However, they have lost another battle.
Effective September 1, in Texas, where a new law amends the Transportation Code that turns a gray area pitch black, formally making lane splitting illegal in the state. Introduced earlier this year as House Bil 4122, the new law specifically makes it against the law to operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic, or for a motorcycle to pass another vehicle in the same lane.
Whether you call it lane splitting, sharing, or filtering, the practice of riding a motorcycle between other vehicles is commonplace in many parts of the world, but in the US, it is only considered legal in a few states. In other states, it’s officially outlawed, but in a lot of places, it falls into a bit of a gray area where it is generally considered illegal despite there being no law that specifically bars the practice.
“In Virginia, which is a common law state, lane splitting would generally be considered reckless driving and thus prohibited,” stated Bob Bradshaw, IIAV President & CEO. “We participated in a DMV study on the practice and the motorcycle industry faced unified opposition by the insurance industry, trucking industry and police. We applaud Texas’ new law.”
Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia