Lane filtering, also known as lane splitting, is a tactic sometimes used by motorcyclists. If they’re driving in heavy traffic and cars and trucks start to slow down or even come to a stop, motorcyclists will filter up to the front of the line. They do this by driving between the traffic lanes.
Often, the reason that motorcyclists give for this practice is not just efficiency, but safety. They’re worried about being rear-ended if they have to stop in traffic and another driver doesn’t see the bike ahead of them. By filtering between the cars, they believe they’re actually safer. But is it legal to do this in Indiana?
This practice is prohibited
Motorcyclists in Indiana need to realize that, although there are some states where lane filtering is allowed, Indiana is not one of them. The practice is still prohibited and considered to be dangerous.
For example, drivers who are in a traffic jam may only be moving at a few miles per hour, but they could still be changing lanes. It can be hard for drivers to see what’s happening behind them, and they won’t expect a motorcyclist to be driving between the vehicles. A driver could change lanes into a motorcycle, sideswiping them and causing a serious accident.
In a case like that, while the motorcyclist may blame the driver for changing lanes without checking their blind spot, the authorities may say that the motorcyclist was actually at fault because they shouldn’t have been lane splitting in the first place.
Traffic accidents can happen in a multitude of ways across Indiana, and it’s important for those involved to understand how the law applies and what options they have to seek compensation if they were injured by another negligent driver.
