Lane Splitting Laws in South Carolina: What Riders Should Know
Matt Whitehead | Attorney, The Carolina Law Group
Lane splitting – when motorcycles ride in between lanes of traffic – is a common practice across the country, but it’s illegal in many states.
Is lane splitting for motorcycles legal in South Carolina? If you ride a motorcycle, here’s what you should know.
Lane Splitting Laws in South Carolina
Motorcycle lane splitting is illegal in South Carolina.
South Carolina Code Section 56-5-3640(c) states:
“No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.”
This restriction does not apply to police officers in performance of their official duties.
Lane Sharing Laws in South Carolina
Motorcycle riders may also be interested in laws regarding lane sharing in South Carolina.
South Carolina law allows for up to two motorcycles to ride abreast in a single lane, but prohibits a motorcycle from sharing a lane with a car.
South Carolina Code Section 56-5-3640(d) and (b) state:
“Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.”
and
“The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.”
Again, this second restriction does not apply to police officers on duty.
Need Help? Contact the Motorcycle Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
The motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help you. We have years of experience helping motorcycle drivers fight for their rights in and out of court. Whether you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident on South Carolina roads or need assistance fighting a traffic violation, we can help. Give us a call at one of the numbers below to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.
The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.