Motorcycle Lane Filtering in Utah

[@Daschickenify]

Awesome to see this freedom spreading in the U.S. finally! And for those of you people who want to get triggered over someone "cutting in line", well, if you are on a motorcycle, you can do this too!

[@joemann7971]

It is freedom but its primarily for safety. The further away a bike can be from cars, the safer. a bike is. Most cars are generally in small caravans. So, if you can get a bike up in front of the caravan, they will be safer than inside the caravan. Sure, it does mean the bike also gets to get home quicker but that's just because the bike is smaller and in places that cars can't. That's why trikes can't filter, despite them basically being in the same danger as motorcycles. That's mostly why trikes dont make sense to me. Its like... You get all the danger but none of the benefits of a motorcycle.

[@FellowOfHammer]

​@joemann7971 Trikes are good for older, vets, or generally injured people with leg or hip issues......I don't see a point otherwise.

[@desertrose8596]

Thanks for posting this because a lot of people don’t realize the law changed. 👍

[@SamCyanide]

This is a great start! Maybe the filtering will be opened up a bit more in the future after this is evaluated, but it's awesome to see Utah taking progressive steps in this direction. Just gave me and a lot more people a new reason to consider living there :)

[@joeinkentucky]

I am guessing it will move in the other direction. The initial accidents caused by car drivers who do not LOOK for motorcycles will cause many injuries and death to motorcyclists who are not wearing helmets. So I see a helmet law in Utah's future.

[@noveski308]

I hope it does make its way to full lane splitting. The highway and speed restrictions are asinine. If I had followed these nonsense restrictions yesterday I’d be underneath an SUV on the 15 and you’d be reading about me on the news.

[@smoothdance]

Haha all the vehicles in this video are UDOT vehicles. Not representative of the general public who doesn't pay attention and of the people who will get angry when a motorcycle passes them at a stoplight.

[@catsgonom]

Exactly. The number one type of person I always have close calls with on the road on my motorcycle is these distracted girls and women on their phones, as if they can't put the damn thing down for one minute and live life.

[@smoothdance]

@@catsgonom Amen!

[@mr.b3168]

Then they will be fined or jailed.

[@tonycj7860]

I'm also sure that another danger will be the guy who is mad because "you're cutting "

[@kristianvandehei8757]

This video is just explaining the law, not suppose to accurately depict how people actually drive.

[@jecsah]

Nice job Utah legislators! It's great to see MORE freedom being given to people through laws for a change.

[@Jeff-Vader_head_of_catering]

Agreed, but I wish they had gone straight to lane-splitting, instead of filtering. Filtering has too many "only when" and "except if" 's. It only helps in one specific situation.

[@GTAIVisbest]

@@Jeff-Vader_head_of_catering Come on, it's like 100x better than what most of us have (complete prohibition of any kind of lane sharing)

[@aldolajak1267]

I don't rely on "legally" created privileges for untrained, unskilled and undisciplined (lack of good riding strategy), and YES, mostly impatient riders, that are NOT afforded to non-motorcycle operators. Good riding strategy in these cases include; having an escape route planned before coming to a stop, leaving space for your escape route, pointing your machine towards the escape route, stopping and remaining in 1st gear, and monitoring mirrors for danger. My safety is too important to me to rely on government issued perks created to accommodate laziness.

[@noveski308]

⁠@@aldolajak1267Lane splitting IS your escape route.

[@joeinkentucky]

Speaking as a motorcyclist with 33 years of riding experience and over 700,000 miles of riding experience, ( a distance equal to circling this planet EARTH 28 TIMES) I can attest to the need for "filtering" or lane splitting. If car drivers had to straddle their car engines and sit still in traffic waiting for the cars in front of them to move on hot summer days, they would QUICKLY understand why motorcyclists want to keep moving.

[@diffened]

Joe Jones, you chose to straddle a hot engine, you won't get any pity from me.

[@R0me0316]

@@diffened what a sad and pathetic life you must live.

[@iminatx3879]

​@@diffenedit's not a matter of pity. Any vehicle has tradeoffs. The biggest disadvantage of a motorcycle is that the rider is exposed to the elements, and the biggest advantage is that it is nimble and can fit in a smaller space. You don't need to pity anyone the natural disadvantage of their choice, just allow them the natural advantage as well.

[@ddneq677]

​@@diffened😂😂😂

[@roddycreswell8613]

Cry me a damn river, your comfort or entitlement doesn’t make your motorcycle bigger or badder than someone in a car that’s pissed off because you cut line because your candy ass can’t take the heat.

[@jason5838]

you guys should look at the Australian Lane Filtering Laws, they seem to have gotten the balance right

[@noveski308]

California does lane splitting right. No restrictions at all, just don’t be reckless.

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

​@noveski308 California has restrictions on its Lane SPLITTING, and even in moving Traffic, SPLITTING isn't supposed to be done at more than 45 mph. So, all the Bikes "Splitting" on the Interstate at the Speed Limit and higher are simply Speeding and Passing recklessly.

[@jason5838]

@@apaulmcdonough2170 45mph! That's over 70kph! Australia's lane filtering laws are only under 20mph (30kph). Moving traffic up to 30kph then you have to merge into traffic.

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

@jason5838 the 45 MPH is for Lane SPLITTING, which is Passing MOVING Traffic. Lane FILTERING is moving ahead through Stopped Traffic, and has a limit of 10 MPH moving up to the Intersection.

[@nativeoutdoors1780]

My question is whats the rule on metered on ramps for freeways? Traffic is backed up and semi stopped but only briefly.

[@wobbuffetbuffet]

If you try that on a metered ramp you are just jumping queue and pissing all the other drivers off. Only 7% of motorcycle accidents are them getting rear ended, most are them running into another vehicle/object or going too fast and wiping on a turn. So waiting in line to join the highway is less risky than jumping queue as cars will see you and try to block.

[@joshsabin4431]

A question I had that wasn't answered was what happens when the light turns green? Or when you're in stopped traffic on a >45mph road, and it starts moving? Since they're not in the front of the line, do they just merge into traffic there?

[@ELKINKNIGHT935]

Yes, they would just merge into traffic at that point.

[@roadmonitoroz]

That would be (in this case) the responsibility of the rider to notice the traffic about to move ahead and to merge in. Over here (in Australia), we have filtering laws as well but the rider can do up to 30 KPH (18.64 MPH) but can do it in slow / stationary traffic. I think this is the better way as sometimes someone starts moving without warning.

[@weekdaycycling]

In Thailand, motorcycles are the first likely to run the red light.

[@nicholasmcintyre4166]

I rarely like videos on KZbin. this one deserved it. hopefully this can spread up to Quebec Canada one day🤞

[@HinspectorGournal]

The speed needs to be raised to 60 mph. The Hurricane DMV has a 60mph zone that goes to a stop light on a down hill. In the last few months of 2024 we have seen at least 2 motorcycles get destroyed by drivers in cars.

[@jimsmusic3906]

Well done explanation

[@maxheadroom8097]

As a long time rider. That is so stupid. I feel safer at a light becouse I keep back from the vehicles in front of me and always keep an eye on approaching traffic approaching from behind

[@michaelbauers8800]

Seems reasonable, Colorado is allowing this now. Seems a bit risky until Colorado drivers get used to it, as it seems you need to be aware when a motorcyclist does this, so you ensure they can safely merge back into the lanes. And you are more careful when starting from a stopped position if a motorcycle might be still trying to get to the front.

[@CZ350tuner]

Is filtering still allowed if the individual is operating a motorcycle with attached sidecar?? I can't see anything, in the rules forbidding this.

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

are you stupid?

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

NO. Trics, and any sidecars are restricted from Filtering, and in California these can't Lane Split either.

[@bradmottishaw467]

If the traffic light turns green while filtering, I assume that you legally and safely merge into one of the traffic lanes and proceed?

[@UtahDPS]

Exactly, Brad. You may have already found this site, but we've got more info about lane filtering here: ridetolive.utah.gov/lane-filtering/

[@markwison4286]

0:58 nothing safe about that merge. This is a stupid part of the bill.

[@AceGoodheart]

What was not safe about that?

[@mxracerguy]

May 14th of what year?

[@Mr.DMZ.]

We need to pass this law in Florida. It's so dang hot an traffic is so bad

[@illuforce]

Yah but more California lane splitting not Utah laws.

[@diffened]

Mr. DMZ, you chose to live in that hellhole, so deal with the traffic heat.

[@noliberalismeveragain]

lane filter red light...get away from rear end.... Do it if it's legal or not You sure don't wanna be behind a dump truck

[@joeinkentucky]

I see a LOT of accidents happening initially. I used to split lanes (called "lane sharing" in CommieFornia) on a Honda Goldwing ALL DAY LONG while working as a motorcycle courier. The drivers in that state are generally used to it, so it does not surprise them. However, to change the law in Utah means a period of time must pass to re-educate car drivers to the possibility of motorcycles passing them while they are stopped. There WILL be those arrogant assholes who will deliberately open their car doors in front of motorcycles that are filtering ... "I'll show that idiot who is in front!" There will be the side collisions of drivers who are in the HABIT of running red lights. This is a BIG problem in Utah, and in states that do not already have filtering laws. Cars will "sandwich" bikes .... "LOOK at that idiot, thinking he doesn't need to wait in line like everyone else!" ... There will be the side swipe collisions as people suddenly decide to make a left turn from a right lane or vice versa. And of course, the car drivers who are texting, reading books, applying makeup or changing baby diapers while operating a motor vehicle will ALWAYS blame the "biker" for the accident. The response is always the same ... "He came out of NOWHERE!" The car driver NEVER says, "It was my fault, officer. I just didn't LOOK for motorcycles!"

[@Bob_Jones123]

You lane split on a Honda Goldwing? Balls! I do it on a 636.

[@Jeff-Vader_head_of_catering]

Agreed. Unfortunately there are a LARGE number of a$$h0les in Utah who have that petulant "how dare you get ahead of me" or who get unhinged at the mere sight of a motorcycle (legally) weaving in and around traffic. I can't tell you how many times I've had drivers who I've passed start chasing me, or drivers who see me coming up from behind, purposefully block me from passing either side around them. Not to mention drivers who tailgate me within two feet of my tire. This kind of roadrage needs to stop. It puts riders in serious mortal danger. I don't understand why they don't just implement laws that are not only legally severe, but financially costly to drivers who do this to motorcyclists.

[@diffened]

A very one sided argument Joe Jones. Lane filtering allows the motorcycles who are "arrogant assholes" to be assholes legally. I drive a small car. I think I should be able to filter up on the shoulder because it isn't safe for me to be rear ended by a truck. And motorcycles do oftentimes "come out of nowhere" , weaving about and speeding in places where they shouldn't, such as intersections. Drivers are often in the wrong but you act as though motorcyclists are just innocent bystanders who do everything correct. They are human and are just as likely to cause their own demise. There are car on car accidents, truck on car, motorcycle on car, etc. every day. Certainly there is also going to be car on motorcycle accidents. Bikers are the ones who choose to ride on public roads with such a vulnerable vehicle. Have a nice day.

[@Begging4Bass]

@@diffened Lane filtering is not asshole behavior. Its safety behavior. Regardless of the size of your mobile cage, you have airbags. You'll be alive and well if you get rear ended, For motorcyclists? Not so much. Also the shoulder on the highway is for emergency stops, unlike the middle of the two lanes. We're not allowed to ride on the shoulder either. So in order to reduce the deaths and serious injuries, they implemented this law. It's safer for everyone and causes less collisions, but "annoying" to those who don't have the privilege of lane filtering and feel like its a competition to get in front first. Get out of that competition mentality.

[@diffened]

@@Begging4Bass I used to ride. I made a conscious decision not to because of safety concerns. Live with your decisions. The "bikers" in these videos act like they are vulnerable flowers, that everyone should watch out for them while they themselves ride like morons. I know I could look it up but I would wager that the car "rear ending" motorcycles is very far down from the " motorcycle speeding" type accident. I have my mirrors adjusted so that I don't have blind spots and I often shoulder check twice, but don't lay your safety on me by "filtering" at 60mph. For car drivers, this filtering puts more responsibility for rider's safety on the drivers. It's another fukn thing that we have to watch for and can be blamed for when the wanker biker runs into us when we change lanes. I don't need it. I don't need, nor do I want, to be more responsible for your safety. Safety behavior? aahaha.... ahaaaaaaaahahahahahaaaaaaa........maybe in theory. Where I live, where it is illegal, it is anything but safer with the weaving all over and cutting off drivers. cheers

[@BenjaminIMeszaros]

Wish we’d adopt California’s laws to allow for freeway splitting

[@noveski308]

California’s laws lane splitting laws are much safer than Utah’s crappy filtering laws. Fun fact: California doesn’t have laws permitting or restricting lane splitting. It’s quite literally unregulated.

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

​@@noveski308California does have Speed Limits, along with laws on illegal lane changes and improper passing. Bikers use "Lane SPLITTING" as their justification for most of their BS.

[@indyjones7550]

I can not believe Utah has instituted the motorcyclist death wish.

[@HomerDPoll]

Its actually a form of gambling with your life. Hopefully nobody opens a car door as your filtering pass and your seen fairly well while doing so. More people are on cell phones quite often these days instead of paying attention to traffic! Good luck doing so.

[@rad3766]

Sitting at the end of a line of traffic waiting to be rear-ended by some soccer mom is a gamble too. Deliberately open a car door causing an accident? Guess who's going to get arrested? 🤔

[@roadmonitoroz]

As someone who has been rear ended a couple of times (giving way as required / stopped at a light), I think filtering is a good idea. I only filter (legal here) when safe to do so , in slow / stationary traffic and at a slow pace. We have $1000 fines for texting whilst driving yet I still see people doing it. Those texting / distracted drivers roll into the back of stationary vehicles more than you realize. As for fools who open the door (why would anyone have a reason to do this), there is less chance of someone doing that than being rear ended sitting in a line. I have had drivers move across (when I'm still a fair distance away) to stop me filtering. They feel like they are losing a space or are just jerks. The truth is.. Motorcycles get off the line faster than the cars so you're not really losing a space. I personally prefer that buffer space. Of course the cars eventually catch up (because they are speeding) but at least the buffer is there for a while.

[@Fred-mp1vf]

Just riding a motorcycle is essentially gambling with your life/safety.

[@american236]

Awesome.

[@GabrielM01]

Amazing

[@MrAlfisher3]

It can be safe when done properly, this is done all over the world with exception to 48 states. This video however is a horrible example of reality because it's rarely that perfect

[@KrisR81]

WoW !!

[@GiJokhar]

Why the arbitrary 45mph limit? Wouldn't a road with higher speeds be *even more* dangerous for the biker to wait at the back? Other than that though, I like it.

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

Because this is for Local Streets where there are Stop Signs and Traffic Signals. They don't want you trying this in moving Traffic or on Interstates.

[@GiJokhar]

​@@apaulmcdonough2170 It's already stipulated for stopped traffic only, so there's no reason for the speed limit stipulation

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

@jokhartsarnaev7545 Threre is Nothing "arbitrary" about the Speed Limit "stipulation" because this tells you Where and When you Can And CANNOT Filter. Lane SPLITTING in California ISN'T supposed to happen with a motorcycle traveling at 50 mph, but you will see "Splitting" while traffic is moving at or even more than the 65 mph Speed Limit. I'm sure Utah Drivers see illegal Splitting every day.

[@joeinkentucky]

I split lanes for decades in CommieFornia. I fear being rear ended by some inattentive moron while waiting in line for a light to change MUCH MORE than the potential mirror kissing or side swiping of cars that may occur while "filtering." There is no single best solution to this. An experienced motorcyclist NEVER stops directly behind another car, in the center of a lane. It eliminates the "out" when he sees a car bearing down on him in his rear view mirror. I always stop off to one side of the car in front of me, and far enough back that I can goose the bike and zip between stopped cars if necessary, allowing the car that was behind me to rear end the car that was in front of me. With texting, applying makeup and all of the other distractions that car drivers have, I can safely say that most car vs motorcycle accidents are the fault of the CAR driver. Of course you also have the young and inexperienced motorcyclists who do incredibly STUPID moves on motorcycles, believing that all car drivers around them are aware of their presence and clairvoyant about their next intended moves. I see lots of accidents happening with this change in the law. It is like suddenly announcing that all cars should drive on the opposite side of the street. You CANNOT educate everyone all at once.

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

oh ok for you to hit cars but the other way

[@firstname405]

Bit of a snowflake, are ya joe?

[@markrossbach1458]

You made an incorrect statement in there. You can definitely lane filter on highways. When the traffic is under 45 mph

[@UtahDPS]

The statute reads that it is only legal on a "roadway with a speed limit of 45 mph or less" - the traffic being passed actually has to be stopped. Here's the language from the statute: "(6) An individual may engage in lane filtering only when the following conditions exist: (a) the individual is operating a motorcycle; (b) the individual is: (i) on a roadway that is divided into two or more adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel; or (ii) on an off-ramp that is divided into two or more adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel; (c) the individual is: (i) on a roadway with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less; or (ii) on an off-ramp; (d) the individual is not on an on-ramp; (e) the vehicle being overtaken in the same lane is stopped; (f) the motorcycle is traveling at a speed of 15 miles per hour or less; and (g) the movement may be made safely." le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6a/41-6a-S704.html

[@markrossbach1458]

You said forty five miles per hour or less, so never on freeways. So that means when there's a traffic stop and there's bottled up traffic on the freeway, you're telling me that the motorcycles have to stay put and they're not allowed to lane filter through the middle at fifteen miles per hour to get out of being caught in traffic. Isn't that the whole purpose of lane filtering, I was under the impression that lane filtering was not just for side roads.​ from what I understand it's for all roads. I think someone here needs to do a little bit more reading or research. And that's not me@UtahDPS

[@UtahDPS]

@@markrossbach1458 The information about lane filtering only being allowed on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less comes right from statute 41-6a-704(6)(c)(i): le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6a/41-6a-S704.html

[@markrossbach1458]

@UtahDPS wow. Thank god I don't live in your state. In my state, lane filtering is legal on any road. Including all freeways and highways. That's really a disappointment for your state, because when there is dead stop traffic on the highways motorcycles have to sit in line in that traffic and get hot and run the risk of being rear-ended. That's pretty sad

[@Dawesenm]

That's great, sadly I'm seeing motorcyclists lane splitting more often now on the freeways since this law became active.

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

that is not legal

[@noveski308]

It’s safer to split than to sit in traffic and risk getting rear ended or run over. On the freeway, a dead rider stops traffic for hours. A lane splitting rider reduces traffic by moving through it and allowing cars to take its place.

[@Dawesenm]

@@noveski308 That's great, it's still not legal for motorcyclists to lane split in the state of Utah in general. Only lane filtering is legal.

[@Dawesenm]

@@davidjones-vx9ju Yes, it's not legal. That's why I believe that some motorcyclists think that lane filtering and lane splitting are the same thing, which is not obviously.

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

@@Dawesenm not the same at all

[@joalvarez6252]

We need this to happen in Texas, During the summer month's its hotter than two vermin having sex in a wool sock underneath a wool blanket!

[@_skud]

i am jealous

[@catsgonom]

Hell no I will never use this option on my motorcycle. You got idiots who open their doors at stops, play with their phones and not pay attention at stops, randomly decide to start changing lanes at stops, ride half way into another lane like they own the road, riding a motorcycle is already super dangerous in Utah and this is just going to confuse people. Motorcyclists, don't use this dumb law. Car drivers need to learn to pay attention in Utah in the first place instead of letting Jesus take the wheel like they seem to love doing. This will not help at all.

[@jordanadams7665]

It does help, ive been doing it all day today

[@SamCyanide]

that's why it's an OPTION and not mandatory.

[@mr.b3168]

Triggered.

[@Skyerzen]

I've ridden a bike in California for 5 years. I got 50,000 miles under my belt. Most of those miles? Lane splitting. I've have very few unpleasant close calls with cars. None of them had the potential to injure me severely. Think about it. The speed differential between me going 50 and someone going 40 is only 10. Meaning that if we made contact nothing serious would happen. I also lived in Utah for a year. Since I wore full gear all the time, sometimes I would get so hot I had to lane split down the 15. I never had a closer call in Utah. Most drivers would either just look at me go, move aside, or at worst, give me a short honk. There's nothing scary or dangerous from lane splitting. It's waaaaay less dangerous than riding without a helmet

[@xq3975]

Being forced to stop right behind some tall vehicle and hoping the people behind you stop is much more dangerous than going between cars where they provide protection from rear ends.

[@QuikZach]

This is a horrible law. My car has almost been hit twice from guys on Harley’s driving past me in between cars. Also, I’ve seen motorcycles go through traffic when the light is green. Dumb law! How is this safe?

[@jason5838]

Oh here's a thought, just move over just a little away from the centre line but keeping in your Lane an experienced driver should be able to do it, hell anyone could do it..

[@Skyerzen]

Do you drive a big as boat? also it IS safe. California has an all out lane sharing law and even though it has a larger population that rides, they have proportionally less fatal accidents than Utah.... want to know why? Helmet laws

[@QuikZach]

@@jason5838 Here is a thought, still doesn't matter when a big ass Harley lane splits. They almost hit me every time.

[@jason5838]

@@QuikZach it is unfortunate that your getting hit when a Harley lane filters through is it the handle bars? or The bikes mirrors? I purposely changed my mirrors on my bike so that wouldn't happen. The Lane Filtering law in Utah needs I feel to adjusted to real world situations, some drivers are switched on and not distracted by something in there car or willingly not allow the motorcyclist to merge into traffic, so the motorcyclist has no other option but to get to a gap. That's why Lane Filtering in moving traffic up to 18mph would create natural gaps in traffic as they move.

[@UncleFjester]

describe Almost...haha...either you are hit or not. You could say you almost won the lottery if it wasnt for 6 wrong numbers.

[@maxrobertson9008]

If Utah were truly concerned about motorcycle safely, there would be a mandatory helmet law statewide! But nooooo.....Freeeedumb!

[@jordanadams7665]

I agree, but this is a start

[@normanparker6568]

And... and... helmets should also be required for all passengers in cars! Think of the injuries prevented!

[@Daschickenify]

@@normanparker6568 helmets and airbags do not mix well.

[@Daschickenify]

The problem with not wearing a seatbelt is not it doesn’t just put yourself at risk , but also everyone else around you. Should you get into an accident or otherwise getting bumped out of your seat, your vehicle keeps on rolling. Your car doesn’t tip over just because you aren’t in the seat keeping it balanced, like on a bike.

[@Skyerzen]

@Jack Stucki a seat belt' most important job is not to keep you alive per say, but to keep you in your seat! If you are not on your seat, you cannot drive the car, can you?

[@knndyskful]

This is going to cause angry/aggressive drivers; this is nothing more than line jumping and no one likes it, If I have to wait in line then the motorcycle does too, I get it’s the new law, but it’s a stupid law

[@avery4528]

If you were on a Motorcycle you would have no protection against someone rear ending you because they aren't paying attention. Plus, the motorcycle moving up doesn't affect you. It can accelerate off the line fast enough to merge before drivers can get up to speed. Not to mention how much worse the wait is for a motorcycle. You're sitting in an air conditioned car meanwhile motorists have to straddle a hot engine between their legs.

[@thelost_woods]

Get a motorcycle then

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

@Luke Kolarsky no just for motorcycles

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

@Luke Kolarsky ok

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

@Luke Kolarsky do you ride a motorcycle or even drive a car?

[@atormiller5172]

This looks like a bad idea to me. Even worse than fireworks in the summer in Utah.

[@dannye4562]

Ator Miller commie control is what you sound like

[@iminatx3879]

It's been four years. How has the number of motorcycle-involved accidents been affected? Is it higher or lower now than before the law was passed? It seems like you should want to know this given your strong opinion of how it was going to pan out.