The short answer is "no, not yet."
Lane splitting is hotly contested among motorcyclists – but is it legal?
Road safety regulations can be a confusing and complex subject for motorists. And lane splitting is one of the most hotly contested issues among motorcycle riders. It seems that everyone has a view on whether lane splitting in Texas is legal or not.
So, is lane splitting legal in Texas?
The answer is no. Road safety regulations require all road users to remain in a single lane of traffic in Texas and only change lanes when it is safe to do so.
Yet, this law, which has been a subject of debate since a bill was introduced in 2016 to change it, could shift in motorcyclists’ favor. If successful, it could mean significant changes for riders across the state.
What is lane splitting?
Motorcycle lane splitting is the act of a motorcycle riding along the white-dashed lines between two lanes of traffic. This is commonly done in slow-moving traffic to cut down on commuting times.
Many riders believe that lane splitting is legal because it’s something many motorcycle riders do. However, it’s illegal, and if an accident occurs, you could be charged with breaking road safety laws.
Is lane splitting legal in Texas?
Truth is, Texas has no law that explicitly mentions lane splitting. Texas Transportation Code § 545.060 states that all road users must remain within a single lane, which essentially makes lane splitting illegal.
Although enforcement may be rare, you could be pulled over for lane splitting, and you could find yourself in legal trouble if you do it and an accident occurs.
And while attempts have been made to legalize the practice of motorcycle lane splitting in Texas, advocates for the practice are currently looking toward the 2021 legislative session to advocate for it.
Lane splitting: a brief history
Lane splitting has been a contentious issue across the country. There are currently multiple states considering the formal recognition of legal lane splitting. These are Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Washington.
Utah passed legislation enabling the similar practice of lane filtering in 2019, which allows motorcyclists to proceed to the front of a line of traffic at intersections. This is just short of full lane splitting.
Recent efforts to legalize lane splitting
Can motorcycles split lanes in Texas anytime soon? There have been recent attempts to legalize lane splitting throughout the state.
Within the past six years, bills have been filed on both sides of the aisle of the Texas legislature, proposing enabling lane splitting on certain roads where traffic is moving at 20 mph or less.
In California, former Gov. Jerry Brown recognized lane splitting in 2016 when he signed a bill into law. There, motorcyclists can lane split, with a recommendation to not split lanes over 30 mph. California remains the only state to legalize the practice. Still, there are many states where lane splitting isn’t illegal – but it also isn’t recognized in law.
Lane splitting penalties
Lane splitting in Texas can come with penalties if a highway patrolman decides to pull you over. The most common penalty is a fine of $175. Under Texas law, motorcyclists are categorized in the same way as cars; therefore, the same safety regulations apply.
If an accident occurs because of lane splitting, the motorcyclist could be declared negligent because they were driving in a way that could be interpreted as reckless.
Because Texas is a comparative negligence state, this could reduce any compensation to which you were entitled.
Is lane splitting safe?
Advocates for lane splitting say that it helps to reduce the number of rear-end accidents.
With motorcyclists being 27 times more likely to die on America’s roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), campaigners cite studies revealing a decrease in accidents where lane splitting is permitted.
On the other hand, opponents say that lane splitting is reckless and increases the chances of an accident. This is especially true, they say, when passing different sized vehicles.
Regardless of which side you’re on, lane splitting remains a traffic violation for the time being. And just because you see other riders lane splitting doesn’t change that fact.
Source: https://www.statesman.com/story/sponsor-story/thomas-henry/2021/05/26/lane-splitting-hotly-contested-among-motorcyclists-but-legal/5173040001/
Jerry M
"I ride because it frees my mind from the tyranny of petty things."