Motorcycle Safety
Lane Filtering
In 2024, Colorado passed a law allowing motorcycles to pass between vehicles stopped on the roadway, such as at a stoplight. Lane filtering is not the same as lane splitting, which is illegal. Lane splitting involves motorcycles cutting between moving cars, which is dangerous, and riders can be ticketed for doing so.
To learn more about the law, visit our Lane Filtering Information and Resources Page.
CDOT Motorcycle Safety Campaign
In Colorado, 73 of the 165 motorcycle fatalities in 2024 involved riders not wearing helmets. Colorado law only requires riders younger than 18 years of age to wear a helmet. CDOT brings awareness to the vulnerability of motorcyclists on the road and focuses on the importance of gearing up with a DOT-compliant helmet on every ride. Helmets are a simple and effective way to reduce the likelihood of injury or death during a crash.
In addition, for your safety:
- Get trained - or brush up on your skills: Find a class on CSP's Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) webpage.
- Get endorsed: Reach out to your local DMV. MOST (above) is a good option for getting a motorcycle endorsement. You can get more information on motorcycle endorsement on the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Motorcycle Endorsement webpage.
- Keep your speed down: Always obey speed limits and other rules of the road.
- Gear up: Always wear protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet. To find a helmet that's right for you, please visit the NHTSA Motorcycle Helmet webpage.
CDOT encourages motorcyclists to always gear up, wear a helmet, obey the speed limit, and watch out for each other. Of course, it’s not just up to motorcyclists to make our roads safer. Drivers also need to take the following steps to help prevent collisions with motorcycles:
- Always check blind spots for motorcycles.
- Always look twice when pulling onto a roadway. Motorcycles can be hard to see.
- Avoid distractions, such as your cellphone.
- Never follow motorcycles too closely.
.