Following the rules of the road is crucial for motorcycle operators to avoid preventable crashes and keep themselves safe. While there is no way to avoid collisions caused by reckless motorists, doing your part by following the regulations, wearing helmets and safety gear, and taking a safety course significantly reduces your chances.
When another driver’s negligence causes you harm, you have the right to pursue payment from the liable party and defend any claims of fault by showing that you followed the rules of the road. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with a qualified motorcycle crash lawyer for more information about Charlotte motorcycle traffic laws.
Riders can find motorcycle traffic laws in the General Statutes and the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. You can also find them in the official Motorcyclists’ Handbook from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The laws treat motorbikes as motor vehicles, requiring them to follow all the standard rules of the road expected for cars, including:
However, there are some motorcycle-specific driving rules. Our knowledgeable attorney can review them in detail and answer your specific questions about Charlotte’s motorcycle traffic regulations during a consultation if you have been harmed in a crash.
State traffic laws entitle motorcycles to the entire lane, and no other vehicle has the right to deprive them or force them over. Two bikers can ride side-by-side in the lane when it is safe, but lane splitting and riding between lanes of slower-moving traffic is unlawful. Riding between lanes can lead to moving violations and increase your insurance premiums.
North Carolina has a universal helmet law, one of the strictest in the United States. All operators and passengers, regardless of age, must wear a DOT-approved helmet with a properly secured retention strap that complies with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards at all times while traveling on public roads. The regulations apply to everyone, with no exceptions for adults or short distances.
All bikers must have a motorcycle endorsement (M) on their regular or commercial driver’s license to operate a motorcycle on state roads and highways. That requires taking and passing a written knowledge test, which covers rules and safety. You must also take and pass an off-street skills and road test or complete a state-approved safety course, which usually waives the skill test for those 18 and over after completion.
Learner’s permits are available to those with a driver’s license who pass the knowledge, vision, and road signs tests, allowing supervised practice with restrictions. The minimum age to obtain an endorsement with passenger restrictions is 16, but they must be at least 18 to receive full waivers and privileges.
Motorcycle owners must also carry the minimum liability insurance requirements, which are the same as for other vehicles and include $30,000 for bodily injury, $60,000 per incident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage, and carry proof of coverage with them at all times. Knowing and adhering to the motorcycle traffic regulations in Charlotte not only keeps you safe but also allows you to avoid traffic violations, licensing issues, and legal liability in the event of a crash.
The beautiful scenery and weather, much of the year, make motorcycles a popular form of transportation. While there is no way to prevent crashes altogether, complying with the traffic rules and regulations will reduce the chance of collisions.
Further, when a negligent driver causes a crash, and you were wearing a helmet and adhering to the guidelines, your chances of obtaining the maximum potential settlement are increased. Contact your hometown legal team to speak with a seasoned lawyer about Charlotte motorcycle traffic laws or to help with a case.
