No, lane splitting is not legal in Texas. In fact, the controversial practice has been formally outlawed in Texas since 2023.
Lane splitting occurs when a motorcyclist passes other, slower-moving vehicles by riding between marked lanes of traffic. While this typically happens in stop-and-go traffic or slower traffic conditions, some motorcyclists also split lanes at high speeds, which can significantly increase the likelihood of an accident.
Texas’s law is intended to protect riders and reduce the risk of serious accidents involving motorcyclists in the Lone Star State. Despite this, some riders still choose to ride between lanes to avoid traffic congestion and speed up their commute.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, a Round Rock motorcycle accident lawyer at Dow Law Firm can help you understand your legal options and protect your rights.
What is Texas’s Lane Splitting Law?
The state’s lane-splitting law can be found in Section 545.0605 of the Texas Transportation Code. It explains that motorcyclists are “entitled to full use of a lane.” Other drivers can’t interfere with or prevent motorcycles from sharing the road.
While motorcyclists can ride “two abreast” (but no more) in a single lane of traffic, they cannot “operate the motorcycle between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction” or “pass a motor vehicle while in the same lane as the vehicle being passed.”
If a motorcyclist wants to pass a slower-moving vehicle, they must fully enter an unoccupied lane to do so.
Why is Lane Splitting Dangerous?
Texas lawmakers have banned lane splitting due to the significant safety risks it poses to motorcyclists and other drivers on the road.
Lane splitting can be dangerous because:
- Drivers of passenger vehicles might not be aware that a motorcyclist is next to their vehicle
- Riders can get lost in vehicle blind spots
- Riders can get caught between multiple vehicles when there’s a sudden and unanticipated change in traffic
- The close proximity to other vehicles leaves little room for error or evasive maneuvers
- Motorcyclists have less reaction time when vehicles make unexpected lane changes
Ultimately, motorcyclists can be harder to see, which means that drivers of larger cars might change lanes, speed up, hit the brakes, or make other maneuvers that pose a threat to the rider’s safety. The narrow space between vehicles and the unpredictable nature of traffic flow create conditions where even small mistakes can lead to serious accidents.
Who’s Liable For a Lane Splitting Motorcycle Accident in Texas?
Since lane splitting is explicitly against the law, the motorcyclist who rides between marked lanes of traffic can often be liable for any accidents in which they’re involved.
However, there might be situations where liability is more complicated, such as when a motorcyclist claims to have been changing lanes or when lane splitting is argued to have been a matter of safety. Other times, motorcyclists might be falsely accused of lane splitting by a distracted driver. A motorcycle accident attorney in Round Rock can investigate the circumstances of your crash to determine accurate fault allocation.
Liability can also belong to multiple parties. If a driver hits a lane-splitting motorcyclist because they didn’t check their blind spot or were distracted while changing lanes, that driver might share responsibility for the lane-splitting accident, too.
In Texas, liability is proportionate to fault. The more responsibility you bear for an accident, the more you’ll be liable for damages. At the same time, shared responsibility can limit or bar a financial recovery if you get hurt. Damages can be reduced in direct proportion to fault up to 50 percent.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you build a strong case to minimize your fault percentage and maximize your compensation.
Contact a Round Rock Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Dow Law Firm
If you’ve been hurt in a lane-splitting accident in Texas, contact Dow Law Firm. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. We offer free consultations, so call our Round Rock motorcycle accident attorneys at (512) 240-9951 for assistance today.