Lane splitting is not legal in Utah. Lane filtering is a separate riding practice that Utah law permits under limited circumstances.
Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably, but it’s important to know the difference to avoid violating traffic laws or being held responsible for an accident. A Utah motorcycle accident lawyer can help provide clarity and protection.
Bikers Need to Know if Lane-Splitting Is Legal in Utah
California is one of the only states that allows lane-splitting. While motorcyclists are not permitted to exceed the speed limit, they may pass cars driving slowly and pass between vehicles at highway speeds. This practice is called “lane splitting” or “splitting traffic.”
Lane-splitting is not legal in Utah. Motorcyclists cannot ride between lanes or rows of slow-moving or even stopped traffic in the same direction on a highway. However, a somewhat recent law allows for lane filtering. Lane filtering is a “type” of lane splitting allowed only in very specific circumstances.
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How Lane Filtering Differs from Lane Splitting
According to Ride to Live Utah’s Lane Filtering page, “lane ‘filtering’ is intended to provide a ‘safety pocket’ for all motorcycles when encountering stopped traffic.” Bikers can filter, or ride between, lanes only if all of the following circumstances are in play:
- The vehicle they are operating is a motorcycle
- The roadway has two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction
- The roadway speed limit is 45 miles per hour (mph) or lower
- The vehicles the motorcycle is passing are completely stopped
- The motorcycle travels at a speed of 15 mph or less when filtering
- The movement can be made safely
Lane-filtering does not allow motorcyclists to ride on a road’s shoulder or in a bike lane.
Why Utah Allows Lane-Filtering
Ride to Live Utah explains that the State sees lane filtering as a way to mitigate congestion at busy traffic lights and a means to prevent motorists from hitting motorcycles stopped at a red light.
The basics of Utah’s new lane filtering motorcycle law put responsibility on motorcyclists to ensure there is space to travel between vehicles, to be courteous, and to avoid causing damage to the cars they pass. Ride to Live Utah also stresses that bikers must be alert and prepared to anticipate movements by other vehicles when lane-filtering.
Motorcyclists must understand the differences between the illegal practice of lane-splitting in Utah and the legal practice of lane-filtering to avoid accidents and injuries.
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Lane-Splitting and Motorcycle Accidents in Utah
Illegal lane-splitting is among the typical causes of motorcycle crashes. Unfortunately, the
Utah Department of Public Safety’s FY27 Statewide Problem Identification indicates that motorcycle crashes are generally on the rise. The number of registered bikes has “more than doubled” from 2005 to 2025, and motorcycles continue to be significantly over-represented in fatal accidents.
The report states that many accidents involve motorcyclists who lack a formal motorcycle license endorsement or haven’t completed a certified safety course. One topic covered in those courses is that lane-splitting is illegal in Utah, and lane-filtering is permitted only in specific situations. Ride to Live Utah emphasizes that inexperienced riders should not engage in lane-filtering.
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The Consequences of a Motorcycle Accident
The common injuries from motorcycle accidents include some that are life-changing. As a victim, you may need extensive and costly medical care. You could experience permanent cognitive and/or physical disabilities.
Medical care costs and lost income place an extreme financial burden on you and your family. Your quality of life is likely to suffer as well. Physical injuries cause emotional trauma. They can prevent you from living independently or from enjoying life as you once did.
Securing compensation for your injuries can help relieve some of those stresses. The extent of your contribution to the crash affects the amount of compensation you can receive. Lane-splitting is illegal in Utah, and if that behavior caused the crash, it could also prevent you from getting damages.
How Lane Splitting Can Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Utah follows a comparative negligence system for personal injury claims, per Utah Code 78B-5-818. The system only allows victims who are 49% or less to blame for an accident to file for damages. Those who meet the criteria to file can still have their compensation reduced by the lower percentage of blame they bear.
If your lane-splitting caused the accident, the other side may succeed in assigning a high percentage of blame to you. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can review your case for free and help determine a possible way forward.
How Lane Filtering Can Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim
There is more subjectivity with lane filtering, and that is another reason why you need an accident lawyer after an accident. Ride to Live Utah emphasizes that while lane filtering is legal, it is not always safe. It’s on the rider to make safe decisions.
If you were engaging in lane filtering when the accident occurred, the other side may try to use that against you. They will work to show your decision wasn’t safe. A motorcycle accident attorney can emphasize the legality of your actions and seek evidence to show that your decision was safe and that the other driver’s negligence contributed to or caused the crash.
Motorcyclists face bias in any accident. Other motorists and insurance representatives often regard them as reckless, rebellious vehicle operators. The nuances of the lane-filtering laws can allow the other side to use those biases to their advantage. An experienced lawyer can work to protect you from unfair accusations.
We’re Here to Protect Your Injury Rights
Siegfried & Jensen know Utah’s motorcycle laws. We know lane-splitting is illegal in Utah, and lane-filtering is not. You could be accused of lane-splitting, but that accusation could be wrong. Our team knows how to defend you and protect your injury rights.
If you need help from an experienced Utah motorcycle accident lawyer, get in touch with us today to arrange a free consultation.
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