Lane Splitting and Filtering in Arizona — What Motorcyclists Need to Know

Lane splitting — motorcycles riding between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic — is a hot topic in Arizona. California legalized it years ago. Arizona has seen multiple legislative efforts to allow some form of lane filtering.

Current Arizona Law

Arizona passed a limited lane filtering law that allows motorcycles to move between stopped vehicles at red lights under specific conditions — low speed (15 mph or less), the adjacent traffic must be stopped, and it’s only permitted on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction.

Lane splitting at highway speeds — weaving between lanes of moving traffic — remains illegal in Arizona.

How This Affects Accident Claims

If you were lane filtering legally and a car turned into you or opened a door, the driver is at fault. Your legal filtering doesn’t constitute comparative fault.

If you were lane splitting at speed — which is still illegal — and were in an accident, the insurance company will argue you share fault. Under Arizona’s pure comparative fault system, you can still recover, but your award would be reduced.

Motorcycle Accidents Are Severe

Whether you’re filtering or riding normally, motorcycle accidents produce some of the most devastating injuries we see — road rash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. The physics are brutal: a motorcyclist has virtually no protection compared to a car occupant.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident in Phoenix, call the Law Badgers at (833) DTF-IGHT. We fight for riders.