Lane Filtering Now Allowed in the State of Utah
Come May of this year, Utah will become the second state in the country to allow lane filtering. While the practice will be much more restricted than it is in California, the passage of House Bill 149 is a significant event in American motorcycling.
Utah’s new law will allow motorcycles to lane filter under the following circumstances:
The motorcyclist is on a roadway with two lanes in the same direction of travel;
The motorcyclist 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.
Even though lane filtering is widely practiced throughout much of the world, many in the United States have looked at it as a crazy idea that would remain forever confined to California. That has now proven not to be the case. Each year the number of states that consider some form of lane filtering legislation increases. With the passage of Utah’s law that trend is likely to continue at an accelerated rate.
As usual, if you have any questions or comments concerning this or any other matters concerning laws affecting motorcycling, please feel free toreach out to me.