New Minnesota Law Allows Motorcycle Lane Splitting & Filtering
September 5, 2025 | Adriel B. Villarreal
As of July 1, 2025, lane splitting and lane filtering are now legal in Minnesota. This change allows motorcyclists to share lanes with other vehicles in slow and stopped traffic. The new law comes with restrictions, and both riders and drivers should exercise caution to maintain safety for everyone on the roads.
What Are Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering?
Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist passes another vehicle in their same lane of traffic. The new Minnesota law allows this practice with certain speed restrictions. The motorcyclist must not exceed 25 mph and must not move faster than 15 mph over the speed of traffic around them.
Lane filtering is a similar practice that involves a motorcyclist passing through stopped traffic, such as in a traffic jam or at a stoplight. According to the new law in Minnesota, the motorcyclist must not exceed 15 mph as they pass stopped vehicles in their same lane.
Here are some other important points to note:
- Lane splitting and lane filtering are not allowed in roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps, and work zones where only a single lane is available.
- Drivers are not allowed to actively prohibit motorcyclists who are attempting to lane split or filter.
- While lane splitting and filtering are now allowed under Minnesota law, they are not mandatory.
Are Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering Safe?
As these practices are new to Minnesota, drivers may feel uncomfortable with them at first. But there may be safety benefits that both riders and drivers can appreciate. The ability to pass through lanes helps motorcyclists avoid rear-end collisions in stop-and-go traffic, and it reduces overall congestion.
A study by the University of California, Berkeley, published in 2015, reported some interesting statistics. Motorcyclists who engaged in lane splitting were less likely to experience the following injuries than motorcyclists who did not lane split:
- Head injury: 9% vs. 17%
- Torso injury: 19% vs. 29%
- Extremity injury: 60% vs. 66%
- Fatal injury: 1.2% vs. 3%
Lane-splitting riders were also less likely to be rear-ended (2.6% vs. 4.6%). However, lane-splitting riders were also more likely to rear-end another vehicle (38% vs. 16%).
These findings suggest that lane splitting and lane filtering can help protect motorcyclists, but riders should still exercise caution to avoid collisions. There may be situations when lane splitting is not safe, and motorcyclists should always use their best judgment. Speeding through lanes of traffic is also not allowed under this law, and riders should make certain to obey the speed restrictions.
Motorists are also responsible for maintaining safety around motorcyclists. Drivers should watch their rear-view mirrors and avoid sudden lane changes so as not to hinder or collide with passing riders.
This new law may also affect liability in motorcycle accidents. Since riders are now legally permitted to pass other vehicles while sharing their lane, this places an extra responsibility on drivers to allow riders to pass safely.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you have questions about how this law affects you as a motorcyclist or motorist, the attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen can help. We assist clients with all types of vehicle accident and personal injury cases.
Contact us today to learn more.