Defensive driving takes on a new element if SB 422 becomes law. It will allow motorcyclists to avoid dangers of stop-and-go traffic by traveling between lanes of traffic under certain conditions.

The Oregon Senate passed SB 422 with strong bipartisan support. This measure would permit motorcyclists to filter between lanes of slow or stopped traffic on multi-lane roads. The practice is meant to allow motorcycles to continue moving when the general flow of traffic is slow or stopped, to prevent overheating of motorcycle engines and rider fatigue, and to protect the safety of riders by reducing the risk of rear-end collisions in areas with high levels of traffic congestion.

In 2021, the Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 574, which would have created a conditional exemption to the violation of motorcycle or moped unlawful passing in a lane with a vehicle to allow lane splitting in certain circumstances, but the measure was vetoed by Governor Brown. Similar to SB 547, Senate Bill 422 allows filtering where traffic is either stopped or has slowed to a speed of 10 miles per hour or less, a person operating a two-wheeled motorcycle may pass the stopped or slowed vehicle at a speed no more than 10 miles per hour above the speed of traffic, they do not impede normal movement of traffic, and they merge with regular traffic flow once the speed of traffic exceeds 10 miles per hour.

Filtering only applies on interstate highways or roads with a designated speed of 50 miles per hour or higher with two or more lanes in a single direction and does not apply in certain school zones. The measure also does not permit operating a motorcycle on the road shoulder (on either side of the road), on the center line (to the left of the left-most lane), or in highway work zones. Lane filtering is still prohibited on the road shoulder, the center line between traffic going in opposite directions, or in highway work zones.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

"Lane filtering is a safe and effective practice in other states and countries," said Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Co-Chief Sponsor of Senate Bill 422. "By allowing this limited, common-sense practice in Oregon, we can improve traffic flow and reduce the risk to motorcyclists while keeping our roads safer for all.”

Motorcyclists have long argued that lane filtering can improve safety by lowering the risk of rear-end collisions and reduce traffic congestion.

SB 422 now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-25 12:38:00

Last Update: 2023-03-24 18:34:48