Lane Splitting, Lane Filtering Enforcement Limited To Designated Lanes - Loke

Motorcyclists can use all lanes on roads, highways, and federal roads, except where specific motorcycle lanes are designated, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. However, the Transport Ministry is monitoring the safety of lane splitting and lane filtering, especially at high speeds on high-risk routes, due to safety concerns, says Loke.

During a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, February 26, Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) inquired about the government's plans to implement stricter laws on lane splitting and filtering to lower motorcycle fatalities in Malaysia. In response, Loke emphasized that enforcement can only be conducted on roads with designated motorcycle lanes. He also added that the present driving school curriculum already covers the risks connected with lane splitting and lane filtering.

“License candidates are trained using a specific training module on safe riding skills that emphasises complying with road regulations, including how to safely overtake vehicles,” he said.

Lane splitting and filtering are common motorcycle maneuvers. Lane splitting refers to riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, while filtering occurs when riders move between lanes of slow or stopped traffic.

Although legal in many countries, lane splitting and filtering are often subject to strict regulations. In 2024, a policy analyst called for stricter legislation on lane splitting to reduce motorcyclist fatalities, citing the lack of clear laws regarding the practice in Malaysia.

On the one hand, lane splitting is typically cited as the primary factor that makes two-wheeled transportation faster in congested areas. But for people who ride bikes, lane splitting poses a serious risk.




According to a 2020 MIROS report, 96.5% of "crash relevant events" occurred when a motorcycle "was moving either by filtering through lanes or splitting across different lanes" as opposed to when they remained in the lanes with the flow of traffic.
Currently, lane splitting is not explicitly prohibited in Malaysia. However, due to the high risk of accidents and the lack of clear regulations surrounding its safe practice, many argue that it should be banned. This is particularly relevant given the country's already high motorcycle fatality rate.