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Safe driving information and laws

Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center

Few things are as freeing as riding a motorcycle. But all that freedom comes with responsibility. Our Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) is dedicated to preventing motorcycle crashes by providing high-quality rider education, training and licensing information. 

NEW: Lane splitting and filtering begins July 1 

Lane splitting and lane filtering will be legal in Minnesota as of July 1, 2025. Motorists and motorcyclists need to be aware of this new law and how it will affect them to ensure it is enacted safely and respectfully on Minnesota roadways.

Lane splitting is allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction and traffic is moving. It allows a motorcycle to pass another vehicle in the same direction of travel and in the same traffic lane only under these conditions:

  • At no more than 25 miles per hour.
  • No more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic in the relevant traffic lanes.

Lane filtering is allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction and traffic is NOT moving. It allows a motorcycle to move through traffic that is stopped, such as at a traffic light or traffic jam, only under this condition:

  • No more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic in the relevant traffic lanes.
     
Image showing motorcycles lane splitting in moving traffic from above
Image showing motorcycles lane filtering in stopped traffic at a stoplight.

Motorcyclists:

  • It is your responsibility to determine if these maneuvers can safely be performed in a given situation.
  • Do not perform them if you cannot do so safely and within the legal speed restrictions.

Motorists:

  • Be aware of motorcycles sharing your lane in slow-moving traffic and when stopped at intersections. 
  • Do not impede their legal right to do so.