Is it illegal for motorcycles to move between lanes of traffic in SC? Here’s what the law says
Adults can drive motorcycles without helmets in South Carolina under state law, but what about lane splitting?
What’s lane splitting, you ask?
You may have seen motorcyclists do it when you were out driving on the weekend on a congested highway or even a country road, where you inevitably got stuck behind a slow tractor. Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist drives between two lanes of traffic.
Here’s what South Carolina law says about the practice of lane splitting.
Is lane splitting legal in SC?
According to Section 56-5-3640(c) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, “motorcyclists are not permitted to operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. The idea is to protect motorcyclists and other drivers from harm.
South Carolina isn’t alone with this law. In fact, California is the only state that currently permits motorcycle lane splitting.
Incidentally, a University of California Berkeley study from 2015 concluded that motorcyclists who practice lane splitting in congested traffic are significantly less likely to be struck from behind by other motorists.
Other SC motorcycle laws
While South Carolina is a bit lax when it comes to motorcycle helmet laws — only requiring riders under 21 years old to wear them — it does have other notable motorcycle riding requirements. Below are motorcycle laws under Section 56-5-3630 and Section 56-5-3650 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
- A motorcyclist must ride only on the permanent and regular seat attached to the vehicle and the driver must not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless it is designed to carry more than one person.
- A person shall ride on a motorcycle only while sitting on the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle.
- Nobody is allowed to operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle or other article which prevents them from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
- No driver is allowed to carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.
- It is illegal for a motorcyclist to attach himself or the motorcycle to any other vehicle on the roadway.
- Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, must be equipped with footrests for its passenger.
- A person shall not operate any motorcycle unless it is equipped with a rear view mirror which will afford the operator ample vision to the rear at all times.
