ebl-logo

New Utah Law Aimed at Improving Motorcycle Safety

As cities expand and populations cause booms in traffic, motorcycles become more and more common but with that popularity, boom comes the increased risks involved with motorcycles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 93,000 motorists experience motorcycle related injuries annually. Nearly 5,000 of these injuries resulted in fatalities. In fact, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely than other motorists to suffer these injuries. That being said, there has been recent legislation aimed at making the roads safer for riders. Because of the nature of riding, we highly recommend practicing safe and defensive riding at all times.

What is House Bill 149?

A new law passed in Utah last week, House Bill 149, aims to lower the number of motorcycle riders who are rear ended at stop lights. The law allows riders to filter through traffic towards red lights at intersections. The hope is that motorists will see riders as they pass between vehicles on their way through the lanes. House Bill 149 will only allow riders to “filter” through traffic on roads with a maximum forty-five (45) miles per hour at no more than fifteen (15) miles per hour. In addition to the speed limitations, vehicles that are overtaken by riders must be fully stopped, given the right-of-way, and must be overtaken safely. .

Lane Splitting vs. Lane Filtering

Unless you live in California, lane splitting, or the act of passing through traffic on a motorcycle at high speeds is illegal. Nevada, Utah and 35 other states explicitly mention that lane splitting is illegal. Where filtering differs from lane splitting though, is the speed at which you can perform these maneuvers. Utah becomes only the second State in the United States to introduce laws permitting filtering.

When Does House Bill 149 Go Into Effect?

House Bill 149 was signed on March 21, 2019 and is set to expire on July 1, 2022. This provisionary period will determine whether or not Utah moves forward with allowing lane splitting on freeways and other high-speed roadways as in California. While this law doesn’t directly affect us in Nevada yet, it would not be surprising if we started seeing similar legislature, and awareness of local laws increases safety!

Get a free case review and consultation today!

Share This Blog

Ask a Question,
Describe Your Situation,
Request a Consultation

Call (702) 222-2115 (702) 222-2115 or fill out the short form below. We will usually respond within 1 business day but often do so the same day. Don’t hesitate, your questions are welcome.

Main Contact Form

* Required Fields

Your Information Is Safe With Us
We respect your privacy. The information you provide will be used to answer your question or to schedule an appointment if requested.

Follow Us On

7860 W. Sahara Ave #110 Las Vegas, NV 89117
Questions or Schedule An Appointment? Click to Call (702) 222-2115Questions or Schedule An Appointment? Click to Call (702) 222-2115

Hours Of Operation

Open 24/7

Eric Blank Injury Attorneys is a top-rated Las Vegas personal injury law firm who has recovered millions for their clients. Get BETTER with BLANK today.

Personal Injury Law Firm Office in Las Vegas, NV

© Copyrights 2023. Eric Blank Injury Attorneys. All Rights Reserved.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Chat With Us

menuchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram Skip to content