Is it legal for motorcyclists to split lanes in Missouri and Arkansas?

ST. LOUIS – There’s a good chance you’ll encounter more motorcyclists on the roads as temperatures continue to climb. You may even see some weaving in and out of traffic.

To get to their intended destinations faster, motorcyclists may consider “lane-splitting.” Perhaps you have even been that motorcyclist in the past.

The American Motorcyclist Association defines “lane-splitting” as “the practice of riding a motorcycle between clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the same direction.” The AMA also endorses it, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal just anywhere.

Motorcyclist or not, when venturing out on the roads, you’ll want to keep state laws in Missouri and Illinois in mind. The legal considerations vary among U.S. states based on where there’s an opportunity to split lanes.

Is it legal for motorcyclists to drive between lanes of traffic in Missouri and Illinois? In shorter terms, is lane splitting legal in both states?

Missouri

Both Missouri and Arkansas do not have a state statute that specifically addresses lane-splitting. There is one statute , however, that promotes traffic etiquette for motorcyclists, and it’s been in effect since 2010.

Missouri State Statute 304.015 explains:

As the bill is written, decisions and risks associated with lane-splitting are in the hands of motorcyclists. The statute advises anyone operating a vehicle to drive as closely as possible within the boundaries of a single lane and to only proceed outside of that lane after they have determined the maneuver can be completed safely.

Short answer: Is it legal in Missouri? Yes, but under the stipulation that motorcyclists consider the situation in which they attempt to split lanes before it happens.

Arkansas

Like Missouri, Arkansas has no specific regulations or statutes that acknowledge lane-splitting. Arkansas does have a statute regarding traffic etiquette and traffic safety under Arkansas Code Title 27-51-302 , which is similarly worded to the Missouri statute.

The Arkansas statute reads as follows:

The statute says that drivers must stay entirely within one lane and should only move off of the lane if the driver sees that it is safe to do so. Ultimately, it may be up to the motorcyclist to assess the traffic situation around them before deciding to split lanes and up to law enforcement to determine whether motorcyclists are driving safely while lane-splitting if they decide to allow it.

Short answer: Yes, as long as local law enforcement allows for it and motorcyclists take the necessary safety considerations while splitting lanes.

Other considerations

Lane splitting may present different risks in different situations. Some common considerations before lane-splitting legally could be the amount of room, the amount of protection and the speed of travel between cars in any given situation.

This analysis comes after a motorcyclist attempted to split lanes on Interstate 70 in Warren County earlier this month before he crashed and died from his injuries.

You should contact an attorney if you need legal advice in a road-splitting situation. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.

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