Lane-splitting is a technique often used by motorcyclists to avoid traffic, make more use of the space on the road, and take advantage of their vehicles’ smaller profile. However, with each state making its own rules for the road, the legality of lane-splitting varies from state to state. As a Tennessee rider, it’s important to know your rights and obligations while on the road.

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The quick answer: no

The short answer is no, lane-splitting is not legal in Tennessee. If law enforcement stops you for weaving in between vehicles and lanes, you will likely get points on your license and face fines.

What is lane-splitting and why it’s important

Lane-splitting is the act of riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic—essentially riding the line between normal traffic lanes. Drivers often do this in order to avoid congested traffic by zipping between slow-moving vehicles until they reach a point where traffic clears up.

There are other similar behaviors that motorcyclists use to maximize their space and time. Lane-filtering, which involves getting around stopped cars at stoplights or completely stopped traffic, is also illegal.

Lane-sharing is the exception here—it is legal in Tennessee. It involves two motorcycles in one lane riding side-by-side. As long as they are not overtaking other vehicles, lane-sharing is legal.

What the law says

This practice is covered under Tennessee Code 55-8-182. Motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, and other vehicles cannot use the road in such a way that motorcyclists are deprived of their lane. The law explicitly allows motorcycles to ride two abreast.

The operator of a motorcycle cannot pass a vehicle in the same lane as the vehicle they are passing. The important part is next: no person can operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

Penalties for lane-splitting

There are penalties for lane-splitting, although it’s still not uncommon to see lane-splitting on Tennessee roads. If a rider is stopped and cited, they will likely get up to three points on their license. They will also have to pay fines and all court costs related to their ticket.

A lot also depends on the rider’s other actions at the time of their traffic stop. If they were lane-splitting recklessly and with disregard for others safety, they may also get cited for reckless driving. This further drives up their fines and penalties.

It’s important to note that multiple legislators have proposed legislation in Tennessee that would make lane-splitting legal on certain roads or at certain speeds. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful and are largely dormant right now.

How this may affect your accident claim

Now, imagine being involved in a car accident while riding your motorcycle and lane-splitting. Some motorcyclists lane-split regardless of legality, but even if they aren’t caught for that, it can come back to haunt them when they are in a car accident.

Even if the other driver caused the crash, your choice to split lanes can affect your ability to recover compensation. Tennessee is a comparative negligence state. As long as a victim is less than 50% at fault for an accident, they can still recover compensation. However, their compensation is reduced proportionate to their share of blame. So if a rider is 40% to blame for an accident that caused them $10,000 in damages, they would instead receive $6,000.

Lane-splitting can be considered negligent behavior, as it is against the law and shows a rider’s choice to engage in unsafe and explicitly forbidden behaviors. This can be particularly disastrous for riders. They are far more likely to suffer severe or catastrophic injuries in accidents, and the loss of a chunk of compensation due to lane-splitting could leave them on the hook for a substantial amount of their own expenses.

This can make it incredibly difficult to recover fair compensation. Insurance companies will jump on any opportunity they have to decrease the amount of compensation they pay out to victims. If they see a lane-splitting citation on the accident report, they will fully exploit that. They may try to claim that the entire accident could have been avoided if you had not been lane-splitting and eventually admit that only some of the accident was your fault. This entire process can drag out the settlement process, leaving you without the money you need to focus on recovery and get back to normal.

Practical tips

As a rider, you are the only person fully invested in your own safety. When riding in Tennessee, never lane-split—no matter how much space you have. If you’re unfortunate enough to be in a crash, your choice to lane-split could cause you significant harm.

If you regularly engage in interstate riding—one of the great joys of this hobby—make sure you know the motorcycle-specific laws of each state you ride through. This allows you to adjust your riding habits for wherever you may go.

Remember that drivers often don’t see (or care to look for) motorcyclists. Be prepared for any erratic driving behaviors, know how to take evasive action, and take steps to protect yourself.

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Our team of motorcycle accident lawyers is committed to helping you fight for full compensation after a collision. Let’s talk about your accident and how we can advocate for you. Contact us online or call us to get started.