Whether you are riding on two wheels or driving on four or more, everyone operating any kind of motor vehicle on public Louisiana roads has to follow all the same basic traffic rules, obey all posted traffic signs, and stay within the painted lines of local traffic patterns. That said, operating a motorcycle is certainly a unique experience compared to driving a standard passenger car, and there are also some unique rules that state law puts in place for motorcyclists.
Understanding Prairieville motorcycle traffic laws before you get out on the road can be crucial to avoiding a traffic ticket and preventing catastrophic collisions that cause serious physical harm. Here is a broad overview of what Louisiana law currently has to say on this particular topic, each part of which a skilled motorcycle accident attorney from Tomeny | Best can go into more detail about as needed.
The Right to Full Use of a Lane
One of the most important ways state law treats both passenger car drivers and motorcycle riders equally is by declaring that both types of operators have a right to the full use of a lane on public roads. This means that motorcyclists have a right to lawfully occupy the same amount of space within a traffic lane as a commuter car, and passenger car drivers must stay the same distance away from a motorcyclist near them on the road as they would from another passenger car.
Passing and Overtaking Other Vehicles
By the same token, motorcyclists are generally expected to conduct themselves while riding as if they occupy the same amount of space as a standard commuter car. Including and especially when they pass other vehicles. A motorcyclist who fails to move completely into an adjacent lane before overtaking a vehicle in front of them has violated Prairieville’s motorcycle traffic laws, and they may be ticketed by police for their offense or, even worse, involved in a traffic collision because they tried to pass too closely to another vehicle.
Lane Sharing
One notable exception to the spacing regulations mentioned above is lane sharing between two motorcyclists. Under the traffic laws applicable to motorcycle riders in Prairieville and throughout Louisiana, it is legal for two motorcyclists to travel next to each other within a single lane of traffic. However, it is not legal for three or more motorcyclists to ride abreast inside a single traffic lane, even if there is physical space for them to do so.
Lane Splitting
Finally, there are some states in the country where motorcyclists are allowed to engage in what is known as lane splitting by riding on the lines separating traffic lanes in order to advance past stopped or slowed traffic ahead of them. In Louisiana, though, lane splitting is prohibited for all civilian motorcycle riders, although police officers acting in the course of their official duties may split lanes like this under certain circumstances.
A Prairieville Attorney Can Answer Questions About Motorcycle Traffic Laws
Even if you are as law-abiding as any motorcycle rider could possibly be, you may still be at risk of suffering a life-altering injury in an accident caused by a negligent driver. Fortunately, as long as you can prove you were following Prairieville motorcycle traffic laws prior to your wreck, you can likely hold the other person or people involved civilly liable for every form of harm your accident will ever cause you.
Getting the best possible result from a case like this will be much easier with the assistance of a seasoned lawyer from Tomeny | Best. Call today for your free initial consultation.
