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Understanding Lane-Splitting Practices

Lane-splitting, also known as white-lining, occurs when motorcyclists ride between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic. This practice is common in congested urban areas where motorcyclists seek to avoid sitting in gridlock. Some riders view lane-splitting as a safety measure that prevents rear-end collisions from inattentive drivers. Others split lanes simply to make progress through traffic jams. The legality and safety of lane-splitting remain controversial topics among riders, motorists, lawmakers, and safety advocates. Understanding how Missouri treats this practice is essential for motorcyclists and affects liability determinations when accidents occur.

Missouri Law Prohibits Lane-Splitting

Missouri does not permit lane-splitting or lane-filtering under current traffic laws. Motorcycles must occupy full lanes and cannot pass between lanes of traffic. This prohibition applies regardless of traffic speed or congestion levels. Motorcyclists who split lanes in Missouri violate traffic laws and risk citations from law enforcement. The prohibition reflects legislative determinations that lane-splitting creates excessive danger to motorcyclists and other drivers. While some states like California have legalized the practice under certain conditions, Missouri has not followed suit despite ongoing advocacy from some rider groups.

How Lane-Splitting Affects Accident Claims

When accidents occur while motorcyclists are splitting lanes, insurance companies immediately seize on the traffic violation to establish comparative fault. They argue the motorcyclist’s illegal lane-splitting caused or substantially contributed to the collision. Defense attorneys present the violation as evidence of reckless riding that justifies significant fault allocation. These arguments often succeed because the motorcyclist was clearly violating traffic laws at the time of the accident. Even when other drivers share fault through separate negligent actions, lane-splitting violations damage the motorcyclist’s claim and reduce potential recovery.

Proving Other Driver Negligence

Despite lane-splitting violations, motorcyclists can still recover compensation when other drivers’ negligence contributed to accidents. A motorcycle accident claims law firm in St. Louis will identify all negligent actions by other parties that caused the collision. Drivers who change lanes without checking mirrors or signaling commit separate violations that establish their fault. Sudden lane changes without warning leave motorcyclists no opportunity to avoid collision. Opening car doors into traffic lanes creates hazards for passing motorcycles. Distracted driving that causes drivers to drift between lanes demonstrates negligence regardless of whether the motorcyclist was lane-splitting. Strong evidence of these violations can shift primary fault to the other driver despite the motorcyclist’s lane-splitting.

Comparative Fault Considerations

Missouri’s comparative fault system allows recovery even when motorcyclists were lane-splitting illegally at the time of accidents. Your compensation reduces by your fault percentage, but complete recovery bars don’t apply unless you’re 100 percent at fault. If the other driver was primarily responsible through distracted driving, failure to check mirrors, or reckless lane changes, you might be assigned 30-40 percent fault for lane-splitting while the driver bears 60-70 percent. This allocation still permits substantial recovery while acknowledging both parties’ contributions to the accident. Negotiating fault percentages becomes critical in lane-splitting cases.

Safety Arguments and Public Policy

Advocates argue that lane-splitting actually improves safety by reducing rear-end collision risks and decreasing overall traffic congestion. Studies from California suggest properly executed lane-splitting doesn’t significantly increase accident rates. However, Missouri lawmakers haven’t been persuaded by these arguments and maintain the prohibition. Regardless of safety debates, the current illegal status of lane-splitting in Missouri creates legal disadvantages for riders involved in accidents while engaging in the practice. Motorcyclists should understand these legal realities when deciding whether to split lanes despite the prohibition.