Motorcycle filtering abroad: where the rules change

Filtering permitted; code is guidance

The Dutch government permits passing between queued cars. Motorplatform recommends a speed difference of no more than 10 km/h; its voluntary code is guidance, not a statutory allowance.

Two speed conditions

When filtering between stopped or slow rows of traffic, travel at no more than 50 km/h and no more than 20 km/h faster than the vehicles in those rows, including stopped traffic. On motorways and designated motor roads (autowegen/routes pour automobiles), filter between the two leftmost lanes.

Timing and date qualifications: New federal and regional codes are scheduled to enter into force on 1 June 2027; review the rules before the transition.

Keep the motorway emergency corridor clear

Motorcycles may not use an Autobahn emergency corridor (Rettungsgasse) to pass queued traffic. Keep the corridor free for police and assistance vehicles. Moving past a slower queue in a lawful adjacent traffic lane is a separate manoeuvre governed by the overtaking and lane rules.

Conditional lane-filtering permission

L3e motorcycles and L5e motor tricycles at most 1 m wide may filter on qualifying motorways or divided roads with at least two lanes in each direction. Dense traffic must form uninterrupted queues across every lane. Use the gap between the two leftmost rows at no more than 50 km/h, or 30 km/h if either row is stopped. Signal before entering and rejoining; rejoin when either adjacent row moves faster than you.

Effective from

11 January 2025

Low-speed filtering in both Highway Codes

Great Britain and Northern Ireland each address filtering in rule 88 of their Highway Code. Keep your speed low in slow-moving traffic and watch for pedestrians, junctions and lane changes. Other road rules still apply.

Stopped queues only

Single-track motorcycles may advance beside or between vehicles stopped at junctions, narrow sections or railway crossings to take a position ahead, with sufficient space and without obstructing vehicles signalling a turn.

Stay in a stopped queue

Swiss law requires motorcycle riders to retain their position in the vehicle queue when traffic is stopped. Passing a moving queue in a separate lawful lane follows different rules.

Stopped queues: limited right-side exception

Single-track motorcycles may cautiously pass a stopped queue on its right when the carriageway has enough space and they can continue or rejoin safely. This exception excludes queues stopped before junctions. Do not pass a vehicle yielding to pedestrians at a crossing.

Keep the rescue corridor clear

Do not use the rescue corridor to pass a stopped or slow motorway queue. It is reserved for emergency-priority vehicles, road managers and vehicles removing crash consequences or traffic obstructions.

Signed shoulder exception

Motorcycles may use authorised, signed right-shoulder sections in stopped congestion. Ride single file, protect existing shoulder users and leave if needed. The exception began on 1 October 2026.

Effective from

1 October 2026

Do not enter opposing traffic

Do not pass stopped or slow vehicles at railway crossings, traffic lights or other congestion if it requires entering the opposing side of the road. Safe overtaking and pedestrian-crossing restrictions also apply.

Queue lanes and shoulder restrictions

In dense parallel traffic, do not switch to a row farther right except to turn, stop or park. Motorcycles cannot use shoulders or pavements to bypass traffic unless property access or a local rule permits it.

Filtering in queues on multi-lane roads

NAF says motorcycles may filter between cars queued on multi-lane roads. Be especially cautious when the queue moves: drivers may change lanes or pull out without seeing you. Normal overtaking rules still apply, and you must not pass a vehicle obscuring a pedestrian crossing.

California

Lane splitting is legal in California for motorcycles with two wheels in contact with the ground, between stopped or moving rows of vehicles. Follow the road’s speed limit and safe-operation rules; shoulder riding is illegal.

Utah

Filtering is limited to stopped traffic, at no more than 15 mph, on roads with a posted limit of no more than 45 mph and at least two lanes in the same direction.

Timing and date qualifications: Rejoin a travel lane as soon as possible when vehicles start moving.

Colorado

A two-wheeled motorcycle may pass stopped vehicles within the same lane at no more than 15 mph if adjacent traffic in the same direction is stopped, the lane is wide enough and conditions permit prudent operation. CDOT instructs riders to pass on the left and rejoin a traffic lane when traffic moves.

Effective from

7 August 2024

Timing and date qualifications: The signed act repeals this exception effective 1 September 2027 unless amended; stop passing as vehicles start moving.

Idaho

Both lane filtering and lane splitting are prohibited in Idaho. Remain within a traffic lane unless making a lawful lane change.

Arizona: stopped-traffic filtering

A two-wheeled motorcycle may safely pass a stopped vehicle in its lane and move between same-direction lanes.

Montana: slow-traffic filtering

Two-wheeled motorcycles may pass stopped or slow vehicles in the same lane and direction where lane width and conditions permit safe, prudent operation.

Minnesota: splitting and filtering

Motorcycles may pass in the same lane and direction within both speed limits. Filtering past stopped traffic therefore has a 15 mph ceiling.

Effective from

1 July 2025

British Columbia: lane splitting is prohibited

ICBC's motorcycle handbook states that riding between traffic lanes is illegal in British Columbia. Shoulder riding is also prohibited unless pulling over to stop.

Quebec: do not ride between traffic rows

Quebec prohibits riding between two rows of vehicles in adjacent lanes. You also cannot squeeze between a vehicle and the road edge, or between moving and parked vehicles within the same lane.

New South Wales

In New South Wales, full (unrestricted) motorcycle riders may filter safely at 30 km/h or less between adjacent same-direction traffic rows. Learner and provisional riders cannot filter. Do not edge filter, filter in school zones, bus-only lanes or where no-filtering signs apply; obey stop lines.

Northern Territory

Northern Territory filtering is permitted at no more than 30 km/h between adjacent same-direction rows when safe. Hold the appropriate full motorcycle entitlement or a qualifying interstate or overseas equivalent. Learner and provisional licences, edge filtering, operating school zones and signed no-filtering sections are excluded.

Queensland: open-licence filtering

Open motorcycle licence holders may safely filter at no more than 30 km/h between slow or stopped traffic travelling in the same direction.

Queensland: separate shoulder permission

Open motorcycle licence holders may safely pass slow/stopped traffic on sealed shoulders or emergency lanes of major roads. Give way to cyclists and motorcycles already there.

Victoria: filtering conditions

Safe filtering is permitted at up to 30 km/h between same-direction slow/stopped traffic, including between parked cars and moving traffic. High-speed lane splitting is illegal.

Western Australia: filtering restrictions

Two-wheeled motorcycles may safely filter at up to 30 km/h between same-direction slow/stopped traffic. Learners, sidecars and trikes are excluded.

South Australia: licence and location limits

Safe filtering at up to 30 km/h requires an R or R-Date motorcycle licence without L/P-plate requirements. A car-only moped entitlement is insufficient.

Tasmania: full-licence filtering

Full motorcycle licence holders may safely filter at up to 30 km/h between same-direction slow/stopped traffic. Interstate learner and provisional riders are also excluded.

ACT: full-licence filtering

Full motorcycle licence holders may safely filter at up to 30 km/h past stationary or slow traffic. Learner and provisional riders are excluded.

Filter under the normal overtaking rules

You can pass on the right within your lane when it’s safe. Passing on the left in the same lane is limited to stopped vehicles or vehicles signalling right. Keep out of flush medians, and leave space to merge back without cutting anyone off.

Stop before passing at crossings

Before drawing ahead of a vehicle stopped at or immediately before an uncontrolled pedestrian or cycle crossing, stop yourself and yield to crossing users. Queue passing does not remove this obligation.

Do not straddle lane markings

Thai traffic law prohibits riding on or straddling lane-dividing lines except while changing lanes, turning or making a U-turn. Overtaking also requires adequate clearance. A traffic gap does not waive those rules.

Remain within one marked lane

On roads with marked same-direction lanes, ride within one lane. Change only where permitted, one adjacent lane at a time, signalling and checking safe distances ahead, behind and beside you. Dedicated lanes remain restricted to their specified vehicle types.

Do not weave through queues

When vehicles ahead are queued or moving slowly, motor vehicles must not weave through waiting vehicles, borrow another road space to overtake or occupy the opposing lane. A queue does not create a motorcycle exception.

Stay within marked lanes

Keep within marked lanes and signal permitted lane changes. Do not overtake across solid dividing lines, at junctions or pedestrian crossings, or in signed school, hospital and construction zones. A stationary vehicle may be passed on the left only when safe.

Use safe overtaking space

Overtake using the lane or road space to the vehicle’s right, with clear sight and enough room. Left-side passing is allowed only in specified conditions, including a congested right lane, while preserving safety. Do not pass a vehicle signalling a move right.

No express corridor ban; keep clearance

Brazil’s traffic authority says the Code does not expressly ban motorcycles between traffic rows. Keep safe lateral and forward distance, adjusted to speed, weather and vehicle conditions; do not use pavements, cycle lanes or shoulders as a bypass.

Avoid filtering in dense traffic

Morocco’s road-safety authority advises riders to avoid travelling between rows of cars in heavy traffic, keep safe clearance and signal overtaking or lane changes. This is safety guidance, not evidence of a blanket statutory filtering ban.

Queue passing still requires safe riding

National law prohibits reckless or negligent riding on public roads. A gap between traffic lanes does not remove that duty; no numerical filtering permission follows from this provision.

Do not filter between traffic rows

Do not overtake between rows of queued vehicles. To pass a queue, use the left of the leftmost row only where there is enough space and you can obey the road markings and normal overtaking rules. Traffic moving faster in its own lane is a separate case.

Keep the whole bike within one lane

There is no special filtering exemption from the lane rules: keep the whole motorcycle within one marked lane and leave safe clearance when passing. Dense queues restrict lane changes, so do not weave between rows to gain places.

Stop before obscured crossings

Do not pass a vehicle or tram stopped before a pedestrian crossing without stopping yourself, unless a traffic island or an empty lane separates you. Slow down and stop if necessary when the crossing is otherwise obscured.

Keep the rescue corridor clear

Ordinary motorcycles may not use a rescue corridor formed between traffic lanes. It is reserved for priority vehicles and authorised road-management or roadside-assistance vehicles involved in rescue work.

Safe space for passing

Passing moving or stopped traffic requires enough road space, without disrupting oncoming vehicles or endangering other road users. Motorcycle agility does not override those conditions.

Keep the emergency corridor clear

In stopped or slow motorway queues, leave the rescue corridor between the leftmost lane and its neighbour. Ordinary motorcycles must not use that corridor to pass the queue.

Two wheels in stopped traffic

Two-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds may advance beside or between vehicles stopped for traffic reasons to take a position ahead, with enough space and without obstructing vehicles signalling a change of direction.

Red-light and railway queues

Do not overtake a column of vehicles stopped at a red traffic light or a railway crossing. Faster travel in a separate same-direction lane is a distinct manoeuvre under the lane rules.

Stopped traffic at 20 km/h

Filtering covers two-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds without sidecars between same-direction lanes. Use dipped headlights, yield, keep safe clearance and stop if needed.

Effective from

13 September 2025

Overtaking conditions still apply

Overtaking must not endanger or inconvenience anyone. Pass on the right, except specified turning situations or slow traffic where vehicles in the lane to your right move more slowly. This lane exception does not itself authorise riding between lanes.

Stay in the queue

Do not filter alongside cars. Motorcycles may ride side by side only with another two-wheeled motorcycle without a sidecar, within the same lane in a built-up area where the speed limit is no more than 50 km/h and conditions allow.

Stay in the queue

Filtering between queues isn't permitted. That includes motorway traffic jams, where police specifically tell motorcyclists not to overtake.

Overtaking rules still apply

Motorcycles may use ordinary traffic lanes where no special motorcycle lane is provided. Filtering that amounts to dangerous overtaking can still be prosecuted; follow the motorcycle-lane restrictions where a dedicated lane exists.

No specific ban; police discourage it

Lane splitting is not a specific offence, but Traffic Police guidance says to stay within one lane and avoid weaving between vehicles.

Federal roads: stay in your lane

On federal highways and bridges, motorcycles may not ride between lanes or adjacent rows of vehicles, or pass a vehicle with four or more wheels within the same lane. State and city roads have their own rules.

Stopped traffic, up to the stop line

You may pass stationary vehicles within their lane, on either side, to reach the stop line or advanced stop line. Ride at a moderate speed and take the precautions needed to pass safely. This exception does not cover moving traffic.