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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.
![Motorcycle lane filtering between two lanes of stopped traffic.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/todd-lane-filter-still-1024x576.jpg)
In short: lane filtering refers to the process of a motorcyclist moving between two lanes to the front of traffic stopped at an intersection.
![A motorcyclist waits for a light to turn green after filtering between lanes of stopped vehicles.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/IMG_7613-1024x683.jpg)
![Lane filtering becomes legal on Tuesday, May 14, 2019](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/may14-1024x300.jpg)
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:
![Motorcyclists can only lane filter on roadways with speeds of 45 mph or less.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/45mph-1024x300.jpg)
![A motorcycle can only lane filter on a roadway with 2 or more adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/2lanes-1024x300.jpg)
![Motorcycles can only lane filter between stopped vehicles.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/stopped-1024x300.jpg)
![Motorcycle speed cannot be faster than 15 mph when filtering](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/15mph-1024x300.jpg)
![Motorcycles can only lane filter if the movement can be made safely.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/safely-1024x300.jpg)
- 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.
![Motorcycle lane filtering demonstration](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/Lane-Splitting-V2-896x1024.jpg)
What Drivers Need to Know
![Drivers should expect to see motorcycles lane filtering between stopped vehicles starting May 14th.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/expecttoseedrivers-logo-1024x554.jpg)
- 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.
![4 photos show what lane filtering will look like for drivers.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/viewsoflanefilteringdriverstwitterlogo-1024x512.jpg)
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
![Photo shows a motorcycle lane filtering and then includes text that tells the specific conditions under which a motorcycle may legal lane filter.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/Lane-Filtering-Tiles-Logo.png)
- 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.
![Photo shows motorcycle lane filtering and then has text describing the circumstances under which it is legal.](https://site.utah.gov/dps-news/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/04/Motorcycle-Lane-Filtering-FB-Cruiser-Logo.png)
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MEDIA CONTACT
Hillary Koellner
Director of Public Affairs
Department of Public Safety
hmkoellner@utah.gov
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