{
  "project": "Filter Forward Virginia",
  "purpose": "Grassroots advocacy for motorcycle lane filtering in Virginia. Every factual claim on the site is listed here with its primary source and a verbatim supporting quote, so humans and AI agents can verify the case independently.",
  "bill": "Virginia SB 435 (2026)",
  "last_verified": "2026-10-21",
  "verification_note": "Each link was fetched and checked that the page supports the claim. An earlier NHTSA rear-end statistic was removed because its linked source did not support it.",
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "berkeley-injury",
      "claim": "Riders splitting lanes when they crashed had lower injury rates: head 9% vs 17%, torso 19% vs 29%, fatal 1.2% vs 3%.",
      "quote": "lane-splitting riders were less likely to suffer head injury (9 percent versus 17 percent), torso injury (19 percent versus 29 percent) and fatal injury (1.2 percent versus 3 percent)",
      "source": "UC Berkeley SafeTREC (2015)",
      "url": "https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/05/29/motorcycle-lanesplitting-report/",
      "status": "verified",
      "note": "Measured injury severity among crashes that happened, not whether filtering changes the odds of crashing."
    },
    {
      "id": "berkeley-speed",
      "claim": "The speed difference with traffic predicts injury more than speed alone; above a 15 mph differential, injury risk rose significantly. Filtering is relatively safe in traffic at 50 mph or less.",
      "quote": "the difference in speed between the motorcycle and the surrounding traffic was a bigger predictor of injury than speed alone",
      "source": "UC Berkeley SafeTREC (2015)",
      "url": "https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/05/29/motorcycle-lanesplitting-report/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "berkeley-sample",
      "claim": "The study examined nearly 6,000 California motorcycle crashes; 997 involved lane-splitting at the time of the crash.",
      "quote": "Of the nearly 6,000 accidents reported by the California Highway Patrol, 997 involved lane-splitting at the time of collision",
      "source": "UC Berkeley SafeTREC (2015)",
      "url": "https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/05/29/motorcycle-lanesplitting-report/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "maids-7x",
      "claim": "A 2009 five-country European study found riders were seven times more likely to be hit while stopped than to crash while filtering, and filtering was involved in 0.45% of crashes.",
      "quote": "motorcyclists were seven times more likely to be hit while stopped compared to crashing while lane splitting",
      "source": "Colorado SB24-079 (enacted), citing MAIDS",
      "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2024a_079_signed.pdf",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "nsw-trial",
      "claim": "New South Wales ran a two-year filtering trial and concluded it was a relatively low-risk activity, then legalized it.",
      "quote": "Lane splitting \"was a relatively low risk riding activity for motorcyclists under the conditions of the trial\"",
      "source": "Colorado SB24-079 (enacted), citing the NSW trial",
      "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2024a_079_signed.pdf",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "nhtsa-fatal",
      "claim": "In 2024, 6,228 motorcyclists were killed, 16% of all traffic deaths, among the highest counts since at least 1975.",
      "quote": "In 2024, there were 6,228 motorcyclists killed, 16% of all traffic fatalities",
      "source": "NHTSA, Motorcycle Safety",
      "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "leuven",
      "claim": "Modeling a Belgian corridor, replacing 10% of cars with motorcycles cut total time lost for all vehicles by 40%; a 25% shift eliminated congestion.",
      "quote": "total time losses for all vehicles decreased by 40 percent and total emissions reduced by 6 percent",
      "source": "Transport & Mobility Leuven (2011), via New Atlas",
      "url": "https://newatlas.com/motorcycles-reduce-congestion/21420/",
      "status": "verified",
      "note": "Authors call it an order-of-magnitude estimate for one corridor."
    },
    {
      "id": "leuven-emit",
      "claim": "Most of the modeled emissions drop came from less idling, not the vehicle mix: 5 of the 6 percentage points were from avoided congestion.",
      "quote": "1 percent from the different traffic composition of more emission-reduced motorcycles and 5 percent from avoided traffic congestion",
      "source": "Transport & Mobility Leuven (2011), via New Atlas",
      "url": "https://newatlas.com/motorcycles-reduce-congestion/21420/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "trip",
      "claim": "The average Northern Virginia driver loses about 103 hours and $2,500 a year to congestion; congestion cost Virginia drivers about $5 billion in 2022.",
      "quote": "The average Northern Virginia driver loses 103 hours to congestion each year and $2,500 in lost time and wasted fuel",
      "source": "TRIP, Keeping Virginia Mobile (2023)",
      "url": "https://tripnet.org/reports/keeping-virginia-mobile-northern-virginia-news-release-09-28-2023/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "harley-heat",
      "claim": "Hot-weather riding becomes dangerous above a 95F heat index; even 2% dehydration impairs reaction time; riders can lose up to 1.5 quarts of fluid an hour.",
      "quote": "even 2% dehydration can impair the reaction times and decision-making skills that keep us safe on the road",
      "source": "Harley-Davidson, Motorcycle Heat Safety",
      "url": "https://www.insurance.harley-davidson.com/resources/stay-cool-while-riding-a-motorcycle",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "utah",
      "claim": "Utah legalized filtering in 2019: stopped traffic only, rider at 15 mph or less, on roads posted 45 mph or less; it is also allowed on off-ramps.",
      "quote": "Lane filtering is legal in Utah anywhere the posted speed limit is 45 mph or less... it is allowed on off ramps",
      "source": "Utah DPS, Ride to Live",
      "url": "https://ridetolive.utah.gov/lane-filtering/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "utah-why",
      "claim": "Utah's safety program says filtering reduces congestion at lights and helps prevent crashes where a driver hits a motorcycle stopped at a red light.",
      "quote": "Lane filtering cuts down on congestion at busy traffic lights. It also helps eliminate crashes from motorists hitting a motorcycle while stopped at a red light",
      "source": "Utah DPS, Ride to Live",
      "url": "https://ridetolive.utah.gov/lane-filtering/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "minnesota",
      "claim": "Minnesota legalized filtering and splitting effective July 1, 2025, at up to 25 mph and no more than 15 mph over traffic.",
      "quote": "Motorcycle lane splitting and filtering are legal on Minnesota roads as of July 1. The new law, passed by the Legislature in 2024",
      "source": "Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety",
      "url": "https://dps.mn.gov/news/ots/lane-splitting-filtering-begin-mn",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "california",
      "claim": "California was the first state to formally allow lane splitting: AB 51 (2016) added Vehicle Code 21658.1, which authorizes splitting and directs the CHP to issue safety guidelines.",
      "quote": "This bill would authorize a motorcycle to be driven between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane",
      "source": "California AB 51 (2016), Vehicle Code 21658.1",
      "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB51",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "montana",
      "claim": "Montana legalized lane filtering in 2021 (Senate Bill 9, MCA 61-8-392), effective October 1, 2021: a two-wheeled motorcycle may pass a stopped or slow vehicle (10 mph or less) in the same lane at no more than 20 mph.",
      "quote": "the overtaking motorcycle is not operated at a speed in excess of 20 miles an hour when overtaking the stopped or slow-moving vehicle",
      "source": "Montana Code Annotated 61-8-392 (Senate Bill 9, 2021)",
      "url": "https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/SB0009.htm",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "arizona",
      "claim": "Arizona legalized lane filtering in 2022 (SB 1273, A.R.S. 28-903(F)), effective September 24, 2022: a two-wheeled motorcycle may pass a vehicle stopped in the same lane at 15 mph or less on streets posted 45 mph or less.",
      "quote": "SB 1273 ... took effect on September 24. The bill added subsection F to A.R.S. 28-903",
      "source": "Arizona SB 1273 (2022), A.R.S. 28-903(F)",
      "url": "https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/bills/SB1273S.pdf",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "colorado",
      "claim": "Colorado legalized lane filtering in 2024 (SB24-079): a motorcycle may pass stopped traffic in the same direction at 15 mph or less when safe.",
      "quote": "filtering at a speed less than 30 kmph (19 mph)",
      "source": "Colorado SB24-079 (2024, enacted)",
      "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2024a_079_signed.pdf",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "nsw-law",
      "claim": "New South Wales allows filtering past stopped or slow vehicles at 30 km/h or less; the filtering law does not apply to bicycles.",
      "quote": "Lane filtering is where a motorcycle rider moves past stopped or slow-moving vehicles at 30km/h or less. Lane filtering is legal in NSW",
      "source": "Transport for NSW",
      "url": "https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/motorcyclists",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "sb435",
      "claim": "Virginia SB 435 (2026) let a two-wheeled motorcycle pass traffic stopped or at 10 mph or less, at up to 20 mph, on divided highways with two lanes each way; a $300 fine for drivers who block a filtering rider; and a statewide DMV education campaign.",
      "quote": "A violation of this subsection is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of $300",
      "source": "Virginia SB 435 (2026), LIS bill text",
      "url": "https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090261.HTML",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "senate-vote",
      "claim": "SB 435 passed the Virginia Senate 32 to 8 on January 28, 2026, before dying in a House Transportation subcommittee. One senator later stated she intended to vote nay, which would have made the recorded margin 31 to 9.",
      "quote": "Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 8-N 0-A)",
      "source": "Virginia LIS, SB 435 Senate roll call SV112 (2026 Regular Session)",
      "url": "https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/SB435/20261/SV112",
      "status": "verified",
      "note": "Recorded vote confirmed against the official LIS roll call (SV112): 32 yea, 8 nay, 0 abstain. Senator Durant is recorded stating she voted yea but intended to vote nay; the recorded result stands at 32 to 8, with her intended correction it would read 31 to 9."
    },
    {
      "id": "endorsements",
      "claim": "Virginia had 431,601 motorcycle endorsements in 2023, more than twice the number of registered motorcycles.",
      "quote": "2023 | 431,601",
      "source": "Virginia DMV, Motorcycle Endorsements 2018-2023",
      "url": "https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/motorcycle-endorsement.pdf",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "bicycle-code",
      "claim": "Virginia law already lets a cyclist pass another vehicle on either side while staying in the same lane; it bars riding between two lanes of same-direction traffic. The bill would allow motorcycles that same in-lane pass.",
      "quote": "may overtake and pass another vehicle on either the left or right side, staying in the same lane as the overtaken vehicle",
      "source": "Code of Virginia 46.2-907",
      "url": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-907/",
      "status": "verified"
    },
    {
      "id": "dmv-study",
      "claim": "Virginia DMV's 2021 study reached no consensus and recommended no legislation; it found crashes where traffic was 20 mph or less were under 2% of motorcycle crashes.",
      "quote": "lacking a consensus on the legalization of lane filtering in Virginia, the report contains no recommended legislation",
      "source": "Virginia DMV Motorcycle Lane Filtering Study (2021)",
      "url": "https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/motorcycle-lane-filtering.pdf",
      "status": "verified",
      "note": "A source that cuts against the case; published anyway per the transparency posture."
    }
  ]
}