Anyone who has ever operated or ridden on the back of a motorcycle knows how dramatically different the experience is compared to driving or riding inside an enclosed motor vehicle. In addition to being more exposed to the elements, you also have slightly different rules applicable to you as a motorcyclist than people driving commuter cars and other vehicles with four or more wheels.
Understanding Phoenix, AZ motorcycle traffic laws can be vital to keeping yourself safe while riding and to taking effective legal action if an unsafe driver causes you to get into a wreck. Here is a brief overview of what Arizona state law has to say on this subject. Reach out to a skilled motorcycle accident attorney from Phillips Law Group for more details.
Basic Rules for Operating a Motorcycle
Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-903 is the section of state law that most directly deals with operating a motorcycle on a laned roadway. The first and arguably most important thing this statute establishes is that motorcycle riders in Phoenix and all over the Grand Canyon State have a right to the same amount of space within a traffic lane as any other commuter car. Other vehicles cannot crowd motorcyclists within a traffic lane.
This section of the law also mentions that motorcyclists can operate two abreast with each other within a single traffic lane, a practice sometimes referred to as lane sharing. However, motorcyclists cannot pass and overtake other vehicles without moving fully into an adjacent lane first, and they cannot operate their motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between rows of stopped vehicles—with a notable exception that is discussed in more detail below.
Understanding the New Lane Filtering Law
While motorcyclists in Arizona are still not legally permitted to engage in lane splitting the way riders in some other states are, a change to Arizona state law has legalized the practice of lane filtering under very specific circumstances. Under this new law, motorcyclists can advance to the front of stopped traffic by riding between traffic lanes if all the following conditions are met:
- They are on a surface road
- The road has a posted speed limit no greater than 45 miles per hour
- There are at least two traffic lanes traveling in the same direction as the motorcyclist
- The motorcyclist stays between lanes traveling in the same direction at all times, and does not ride on a median or shoulder
- The motorcyclist does not exceed 15 miles per hour at any point while lane filtering
Of course, Phoenix motorcyclists engaging in this behavior are also expected to ensure there is enough room for them to safely perform this maneuver before actually moving, and they cannot take advantage of this traffic law while traffic around them is moving.
Learn More About Motorcycle Traffic Laws From a Phoenix, AZ Attorney
Unfortunately, following Phoenix, AZ motorcycle traffic laws to the letter as a motorcyclist cannot completely eliminate the risk of a serious motorcycle crash. Even the most responsible riders can—and all too often do—wind up suffering severe injuries in wrecks caused solely by the negligence of another driver near them.
If you have been hurt recently under circumstances such as this, you have help available from a law firm that has been locally operated in the Phoenix metro area for over thirty years. Call Phillips Law Group today to discuss your possible claim with a member of our legal team.
Available 24/7