This Nevada Revised Statute pertains to how motorcycle drivers need to operate their vehicles and describes some of the things that they can and cannot do.
Lane splitting is one of the major focuses of this NRS but we go in-depth on that in a separate article so for this one we will discuss the other aspects listed in the law.
Following The Rules of the Road is all about making the roads safe for everyone—drivers, motorists, and pedestrians. Whether you’re trying to impress someone or want to see if you can get away with it, disobeying these rules can lead to fatal accidents.
According to Isaac Sanders, “You see these motorcyclists driving all kinds of crazy, dipping into lanes, not really following the rules.”
In this article, we’ll go over some motorcycle rules and how motorists should conduct themselves on the road.
No Overtaking or Passing Within the Same Traffic Lane
There are multiple points to this statute and one of the more significant ones involves passing.
As the statute reads:
Except as provided in subsection 3, a person shall not drive a motorcycle, moped, or trimobile abreast of or overtake or pass another vehicle within the same traffic lane.
This point discusses when a motorcycle (or similar vehicle) passes a car all within the same lane. It is similar to the example of splitting a lane at a red light but occurs all within the same lane.
So even though a motorcycle or similar vehicle does not take up a lot of room, they are not allowed to pass another car within the same lane. They must adhere to the same rules that all other drivers follow.
No doubt that it is tempting for them to pass alongside a car in the same lane when traffic is backed up but that type of action certainly translates into a dangerous situation.
By passing a car all the while staying in the same lane, there is not much room for error. Obviously, the most dangerous party involved is the motorcycle driver but the car being passed is also in an unusual predicament.
Since the driver of the car is not expecting anyone to be passing them, if they see that happen, it could startle them and cause them to swerve into the other lane. By doing that, it could cause an accident to an automobile driving right next to them. All of this could potentially happen without the motorcycle even being involved. They could possibly drive away unscathed while the damaged vehicles they caused could be left in the dust.
Obviously, this is quite dangerous for all drivers involved. If the car that is being passed sees a motorcycle right next to its window passing it could cause an abrupt adjustment which could turn into an accident and chain reaction for more impulsive decisions.
Conducting an action like overtaking a car all in the same lane is certainly risky behavior by the motorcycle operator which is why this law was written.
Ticket Busters can help you if you are ever involved in an accident caused by a motorcycle driver.
If an auto accident occurs, try to get the contact info of the people who pull over to assist.
Sometimes they drive away after seeing that other people have stopped but knowing their contact info will help us investigate your case as they were eyewitnesses to what exactly happened.
Two Motorcycles Allows in One Traffic Lane
The next sub-point to the NRS is very specific:
Motorcycles and mopeds may, with the consent of the drivers, be operated no more than two abreast in a single traffic lane.
As the statute reads, motorcycles and similar types of vehicles are only allowed to ride side by side in one single lane.
Side by side means that only 2 vehicles can be riding next to each other. If there is a third all riding next to each other, then that is a violation and can generate a traffic ticket if witnessed by a police officer.
The way lanes are built in Nevada, there is simply not ample room for three motorcycles to drive next to each other.
Although they may all fit within the lane, there is not sufficient room in case anything unforeseen happens. If debris is in the roadway or a car tries to enter in the lane unexpectedly, then that could cause a serious issue and bring danger to all of the drivers involved. It would literally look like dominoes toppling over.
In some cases, a motorcycle driver will cause an incident and never even know because by the time the accident occurs it is in their rearview mirror. If this happens you should call Ticket Busters right away. If a collision occurs then law enforcement will be called and will arrive at the scene to take notes and get eyewitness interviews. It is quite possible that the motorcycle rider will be identified.
Police Officers Exempted
The fourth point provides clarity as to how the law pertains to police officers while conducting the duties of their job. We will not go into those details because they are obvious.
If a member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department or Nevada Highway Patrol needs to make a specific move on their motorbike to conduct the necessary duties of their job, then they are allowed to do so under this statute.
This holds true for other precincts in southern Nevada such as the Henderson Police Department, North Las Vegas Policy, and entities in Boulder City.
Additional Rules for Turning Left
There is one final point to this NRS and it gives detail about how soon a driver of a motorcycle can enter into a left-hand turn lane:
A person driving a moped as required pursuant to subsection 4 who is preparing to turn left may enter the lane from which the left turn will be made not more than one-quarter of a mile from where the left turn will be made.
This aspect of the statute is very specific about how and when a motorcycle driver can make a left-hand turn. As it states, when a motorcycle is making a left-hand turn, they are not allowed to enter into that lane more than a quarter mile before the turn is intended to be made.
This sounds simple enough but when traffic is backed up it is quite enticing for a moped, trimobile or motorcycle driver to get in that left lane as soon as possible to avoid the long line of traffic.
Not only is this annoying for other drivers witnessing this type of act (it is annoying because they are following the rules while the motorcycle driver is not) but it is also dangerous. When cars get to the quarter-mile mark they will also move over to the left-hand lane to make the turn and if a motorcycle is already in that lane it could pose an issue or possible collision.
The bottom line with all of the Nevada Revised Statutes is that they were written for all drivers to follow. With all Nevada drivers on the same page, following the same rules, the opportunity to decrease collisions on NV roadways goes down significantly. When drivers make up their own rules and do not adhere to the statutes as they were written the probability increases quite a bit that a collision will occur.
Serious injury can happen when dangerous actions occur such as passing a car in the same lane, splitting traffic, and traveling alongside two other motorcycles.
There simply is not enough room within each lane to conduct this activity and other drivers may make quick moves that brings danger to everyone in the vicinity.
Oftentimes, large vehicles with limited visibility can miss a motorcycle that is near them. These types of incidents occur in normal traffic situations let alone when more aggressive actions are being done.
With Interstate 15 being the main corridor from southern California to the rest of the country there are plenty of semi-trucks on the roadway. They often have blind spots even though the drivers are skilled and must continue to recertify. Because of this, accidents with motorcycles and small vehicles are a common occurrence. There is no need to magnify this scenario with aggressive driving tactics.
This is precisely why this Nevada Revised Statute was written and needs to be followed.
Safety is the main concern and safety involves all drivers whether it be the motorcycle operator, passenger or riders of nearby vehicles.
Issued a Traffic Ticket? Call Ticket Busters
If you receive a traffic ticket of any kind (as the motorcycle or moped driver or by driving a nearby passenger car) then please reach out to Ticket Busters for help. Our educated legal team can assist you with all aspects of the violation.
In most cases, you can just pay the fine and be done with it but that oftentimes is not the best course to follow. Often times what we believe occurred may be different than what actually happened.
Our legal team can assist with that making fines less likely and, sometimes, even get cases or tickets dropped completely.
If getting the ticket thrown out is not an option then we will work to get your citation changed to a non-moving violation which usually does not incur any rate hikes on driver’s insurance and typically does not involve traffic school.
To reach out to us at Ticket Busters you can do so via email, phone or by coming by our office.
