Anyone who has ever operated or been a passenger on a motorcycle knows exactly how different riding on two wheels is from driving on four wheels inside an enclosed commuter car. When it comes to the rules of the road, though, there is not as much of a distinction between motorcycles and other vehicles as many people think.
Still, it is important as a motorcycle owner to be familiar with Mesa motorcycle traffic laws, not just to reduce your risk of getting into a wreck, but also to protect your right to sue someone else who negligently causes you to get hurt in a wreck. Here is a broad overview of how Arizona state law governs motorcycle operation on public roads, each part of which a motorcycle accident lawyer from Phillips Law Group can answer questions about as needed.
For the most part, Arizona state law treats motorcycles in exactly the same way it treats other types of motor vehicles. It expects riders to follow basic traffic laws and patterns and provides them with legal protection if they do. Motorcycle-specific regulations are also in place to further protect bikers from injury.
Motorcycle operators in Mesa are legally entitled to the same amount of space within a traffic lane as any commuter car would occupy. Additionally, other drivers may not pass and overtake motorcyclists without first moving fully into an adjacent lane of traffic.
Motorists are also prohibited from tailgating or otherwise driving unreasonably close to a motorcyclist in a way that would result in a collision with a standard car in the same space. By the same token, motorcyclists are expected to move fully into an adjacent lane before passing and overtaking other vehicles. They cannot pass a vehicle directly ahead of them while remaining in the same lane, even if there is technically enough space for them to do so.
Unlike some other states, Arizona’s motorcycle traffic laws for riders in Mesa and elsewhere do not allow lane splitting or riding between lanes of moving traffic. However, if traffic is fully stopped ahead of a motorcyclist who is on a surface road with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less, that motorcyclist may be allowed to move carefully in between lines of cars to the front of the stoppage as long as they do not travel over 15 miles per hour while doing so, a practice known as “lane filtering.”
Motorcyclists can also ride two abreast with each other within a single lane of traffic. However, it is illegal for motorcyclists to ride three or more abreast with each other within a single traffic lane, or for a motorcyclist to lane share like this with any other type of vehicle.
Riding on a motorcycle around other traffic can be dangerous even if you follow every law applicable to you as a rider. Fortunately, if you end up hurt in a motorcycle crash caused by another driver’s illegal act, you may be able to make that other negligent driver pay financially for the damages your accident has caused you.
Working closely with a skilled lawyer from Phillips Law Group will dramatically improve your chances of getting the best possible case result, even if that requires going to court instead of negotiating a private settlement. Call today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your possible claim with one of our team members.
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