What Are the Motorcycle Laws Every Texan Should Know?

Texas is a major state for motorcycling. Thousands of people use motorcycles for commutes and as a pastime. As a motorcycle operator in Texas, you must learn and follow the laws that apply to you. Otherwise, you could end up with a ticket and fine – or worse, involved in a serious motorcycle accident due to a broken traffic law. Obeying Texas’s motorcycle laws can help keep you safe from collisions.

Motorcyclists have a legal right to share the road with motor vehicle drivers in Texas. Motorcyclists have all the same rights as other vehicle operators. Drivers must respect motorcyclists’ rights to the road and yield the right-of-way, when applicable. Motorcycles can take up entire lanes, as well as ride two abreast in the same lane with other motorcyclists. Motorcyclists must also obey all relevant traffic laws. These include speed limits, traffic signs, stoplights and rights-of-way.

Wearing a helmet is important for your safety as a motorcyclist. It can significantly decrease your risk of a serious head or brain injury if you get into an accident. It is also a legal requirement in Texas if you are under the age of 21. As someone under 21, you must wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards. If you are 21 or older and have the proper motor vehicle insurance, the helmet requirement does not apply to you. You can also avoid the helmet requirement if you are at least 21 and have completed an approved motorcycle safety course.

You cannot operate a motorcycle in Texas that is missing required parts or equipment. Your motorcycle must be roadworthy, meaning it contains all the necessary parts for operation. You should also wear the proper protective gear to reduce the risk of accident injuries.

You must also have the correct operator’s license. In Texas, only people with valid motorcycle licenses (Class M driver’s licenses) may operate motorcycles. Obtaining this license takes passing special written and driving tests.

You must be able to show proof of liability insurance to register a motorcycle in Texas. Liability insurance pays for other people’s damages in an at-fault motorcycle accident. You must carry at least $30,000 in coverage for bodily injuries in an accident per person, $60,000 in injury liability insurance per accident and $25,000 in property damage liability insurance. If you wish to be exempt from Texas’s motorcycle helmet requirement, you will need proof of at least $10,000 in medical insurance in addition to the minimum amounts of insurance coverage. You can purchase additional coverage to pay for your own damages in an accident as well, such as collision or uninsured motorist insurance.

Lane-splitting is a motorcycle maneuver that is banned in most states, including Texas. It refers to a motorcyclist passing other vehicles or riding on the line between two lanes of traffic. Although supporters of lane-splitting believe it to be safer for motorcyclists, Texas and most other states prohibit lane-splitting due to safety concerns. As a motorcyclist in Texas, you must remain in your lane unless passing another vehicle. You must fully enter the adjacent lane to pass. If caught riding between vehicles on the line, you could receive a traffic ticket and a fine for illegal lane-splitting in Texas.

Understanding Texas’s basic motorcycle laws is only the beginning. If you get into an accident as a motorcyclist, you will need to learn a new set of laws that apply to collisions. Speak to an attorney in Houston if you would like more information about Texas’s motorcycle laws and your rights as a rider.

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