Government

Safety First! New Arizona Law Gives Motorists Room To Get Ahead

Motorists moving to the front of the queue should still remain cautious of blue shells.

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Red Mountain Bike On Red Background

This, but with a motor

I jump at the chance to write the tangentially law-related article about cycling. And though they aren’t as good for exercise, I pay attention to my engined friends too. And good news — you’ve permission to drive a little more freely and safely in Arizona very shortly.

Arizona motorcycle riders will soon have some additional freedom while on the road. A law signed during the last legislative session will allow riders to lane filter. That means they will be able to move between stopped cars to get in front of the traffic like at a stoplight.

It starts this upcoming Saturday and Phillip Payne a frequent rider in Scottsdale said he’s grateful it’s happening.

“Bikes will be able to get around more safely and take less space,” Payne said.

While it sounds dangerous he believes this will prevent motorcyclists from getting hit from behind by drivers not paying attention.

“Getting rear-ended on a motorcycle is one of the scariest spots to be on a bike.”

Before you rev up those engines, you should know a couple of the caveats:

  • Cars must be safely stopped and traveling the same direction as the motorcycle.
  • The posted speed limit must be 45 MPH or less.
  • The rider can go no faster than 15 MPH between the stopped vehicles.
  • The law does not apply to three-wheeled motorcycles

As important as passing laws that make roads safer for everyone involved is, it is worth mentioning that the vast majority of cycling casualties — over 75% of them — are from head-on collisions. Not to mention that road rage in open carry states has led to more casualties than usual. Go have your fun. But remember to share the roads and be excellent to each other. That goes for you people in 4 doors, too. 

‘There’s A Lot Of Stipulations’: New Motorcycle Law Aims To Protect Drivers And Riders On Arizona’s Roads[12 News]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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