DPS NEWS

Utah’s New Lane Filtering Law

As you might or might not be aware of, Utah has a new law that will affect all motorists. Utah’s new motorcycle lane filtering law goes into effect on May 14, 2019.

What Is Lane Filtering?

Definition: “Lane filtering” means, when operating a motorcycle other than an autocycle, the act of overtaking and passing another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel in the same lane.

In short: lane filtering refers to the process of a motorcyclist moving between two lanes to the front of traffic stopped at an intersection.

Drivers and riders will need to be aware of this new behavior and the specific circumstances under which it is permitted.

Motorcycles Can Only Lane Filter When:

• the individual is operating a motorcycle;
• the individual is on a roadway divided into two or more adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel;
• the individual is on a roadway with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less;
• the vehicle being overtaken in the same lane is stopped;
• the motorcycle is traveling at a speed of 15 miles per hour or less;
• and the movement may be made safely.

What Drivers Need to Know

• Starting May 14th, lane filtering between stopped vehicles on roadways with at least 2 lanes in the same direction and speeds of 45 mph and lower will be legal in Utah.
• Drivers can expect to see motorcyclists engaging in this new driving behavior.

Recent News Stories About Lane Filtering

• KSL: “New Utah motorcycle lane filtering law to take effect next week”
• Fox 13: “Lane Filtering Law Takes Effect Next Week”
• ABC4: ” Motorcycle ‘lane filtering’ law about to take effect”
• KUTV “New Utah law: Lane filtering different than lane splitting for motorcycles”
• KUTV: ‘It helps everybody’: Motorcycle riders and troopers discuss Utah’s new lane filter law
• KSL Newsradio: New motorcycle law in Utah
• ABC4: Motorcyclists, troopers raise awareness about new traffic law
• KSL: What you need to know about Utah’s new lane filtering law
• Fox13: Motorcyclist voices road rage concern over new lane filtering law

Some of the major roads where drivers will see this:

• Salt Lake County
  • Foothill Blvd
  • State Street
  • 7th East
  • Redwood Road
• Davis/Weber Counties
  • Parrish Lane
  • Antelope Drive
  • Park Lane
  • Riverdale Road
  • Harrison Blvd
  • Washington
• Utah County
  • State Street
  • 1600 north Orem
  • 800 north Orem
  • Geneva Road

What Riders Need To Know

• Lane filtering is NOT the same as California’s lane splitting.
• Lane filtering can only be performed between stopped vehicles on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or less and two or more lanes in the same direction.
• Lane filtering is a CHOICE. Riders do not have to lane filter.
• Lane filtering can present unique safety challenges for riders – especially inexperienced ones.
• If riders choose to lane filter, they should exercise extreme caution at all times.