Find A St. Louis Lawyer After Dangerous Lane Splitting Collision

Lane splitting, also known as lane filtering, is not explicitly legal or illegal in Missouri. Here's a breakdown of the situation:

• No Specific Law: Missouri traffic laws don't have a provision that directly addresses lane splitting. There's no legal code that says motorcyclists can or cannot ride between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic.

• General Safe Driving Rules Apply: However, Missouri law requires all vehicles to operate as close as practical within a single lane. This means lane splitting could be interpreted as a violation of this general safety rule.

• Police Discretion: Because there's no clear law, lane splitting is ultimately at the officer's discretion. They could pull you over for unsafe operation if they observe you splitting lanes.

• Safety Concerns: Despite the lack of a specific law, lane splitting is generally considered unsafe by law enforcement and motorcycle safety advocates. Motorcycles are vulnerable compared to larger vehicles, and squeezing between them in traffic can increase the risk of accidents.

Here's a recommendation:

• Avoid Lane Splitting in Missouri: Due to the ambiguity of the law and the safety risks, it's best to avoid lane splitting altogether in Missouri.