“We’ve seen an increase in risky motorcycle behavior…” That’s a quote from Idaho State Police Captain Michael Winans. He went on to say it’s leading to “…pursuits, injury crashes, and even fatalities.”
The ISP says with warmer weather, more motorcycle riders are taking to the roads, and there seems to be some confusion about what’s legal.
They’re taking this time to remind drivers that lane splitting is illegal. That’s when riders go between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic to get ahead. They say motorcycles must follow the same laws as cars. They have to stay within a single marked lane unless making a legal lane change.
Because riders have less protection, they face a higher risk of serious injury or death in a crash. Winans says it “puts everyone at risk, and it’s not allowed in Idaho.”
Also illegal for riders is lane filtering. That’s picking picking your way through slow or stationary traffic, like at a stoplight. Lane sharing is also against the law. That’s when riders are side-by-side in a single lane with any other vehicle, but that does not apply to another motorcycle.
The ISP says they will continue active motorcycle enforcement patrols to keep the roads safe for everyone.
