Motorcyclists in Minnesota may ride between lanes of traffic in certain situations, a maneuver that became legal when a new state law went into effect in July.
Lane splitting and lane filtering will be among the newest additions to the next edition of the Minnesota Driver’s Manual, the document that spells out the rules of the roads that millions of Minnesotans share with each other.
Lane splitting allows motorcyclists to ride between traffic at up to 25 mph when vehicles are moving at 25 mph or slower. Lane filtering permits them to ride between stopped traffic at up to 15 mph. Both practices are legal as long as it’s between two lanes of traffic going the same direction. The purpose, theoretically, is to improve motorcycle safety and reduce congestion.
Lane splitting and lane filtering will show up in the next edition of the manual that should be out in December or January.
In recent years, new requirements regarding the use of child safety seats have made their way into the book. Terms such as diverging diamond interchanges and J-turns have appeared. Instructions on how to navigate a roundabout and interpret road signs have changed, too.
Every time a law impacting traffic changes, the manual needs updating, which happens annually, said Mark Karstedt, a spokesman with the Department of Public Safety. In 2023, legislative action led to 60 changes, and last year there were about 40.
One of those directed Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) to write the manual and its website using plain language and using consistent terminology. In the past, a behind-the-wheel test may have also been called a skills test in some places or a road test in others. Now, it is simply a road test throughout the manual.
“The importance of reader understanding cannot be overstated,” Karstedt said. “Being clear and concise, as well as using everyday words, helps all of us understand what is expected of us as drivers and follow the rules of the road.”
