Georgia CommonsHB 461: Motorcycle Mobility Safety Act; enact
Last action February 24, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
House Bill 461, the Motorcycle Mobility Safety Act, would let motorcyclists and bicyclists proceed through certain malfunctioning traffic signals, require drivers to stop for pedestrian crosswalk beacons, and let motorcycles legally pass stopped traffic in the same lane at low speed.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia law currently requires all drivers to obey traffic signals and bars motorcycles from passing other vehicles within the same lane. This bill changes both rules for motorcycles and bicycles. If a rider stops at a signal equipped with a red light camera and reasonably believes the signal is not detecting their lightweight vehicle (after watching at least two light cycles), they may proceed through the intersection if no other vehicle is within 500 feet and they proceed cautiously. The rider bears the burden of proving they met these conditions if challenged. The bill also updates the definition of a 'rectangular rapid flash beacon,' the flashing pedestrian crossing signal, and requires drivers to stop for pedestrians when one is activated. It makes it illegal for a pedestrian to activate the beacon without intending to cross. Separately, it allows motorcycles traveling 15 miles per hour or less to pass stopped vehicles in the same lane to reach a turn lane or move through stopped traffic at a signal, reversing the current ban on same-lane passing. Police officers performing official duties are exempt from these motorcycle restrictions.
What the bill does
- Allows a motorcycle or bicycle rider stopped at a camera-monitored signal to proceed through the intersection if they reasonably believe the signal is not detecting them, after observing two light cycles and confirming no vehicle is within 500 feet.
- Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians at crosswalks equipped with an activated rectangular rapid flash beacon (a pedestrian-triggered flashing warning light).
- Makes it unlawful for a pedestrian to activate a rectangular rapid flash beacon unless they actually intend to cross the roadway.
- Reverses current law to let motorcycle riders overtake and pass stationary vehicles within the same lane, but only to reach a turn lane or move past stopped traffic at a signal, and only at 15 miles per hour or slower.
- Removes the current ban on motorcycles riding between lanes or rows of stopped vehicles, replacing it with the narrower rule described above.
- Updates the legal definition of 'rectangular rapid flash beacon' in Georgia's motor vehicle code and removes an unrelated definition for off-highway recreational vehicles.
Who it affects
Motorcycle and bicycle riders, drivers who share the road with them, pedestrians using marked crosswalks with flashing beacons, and law enforcement agencies operating red light cameras. Police officers performing official duties are exempted from the new motorcycle lane-passing restrictions.
Why it matters
Motorcyclists and cyclists sometimes cannot trigger sensor-based traffic signals because their vehicles are too light, leaving them stuck at red lights; this bill gives them a legal way through under strict conditions. It also clarifies driver and pedestrian duties at flashing crosswalk beacons and lets slow-moving motorcycles maneuver around stopped traffic.
Key provisions
- Section 2 revises the O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1 definition of 'rectangular rapid flash beacon' and deletes the definition of 'recreational off-highway vehicle.'
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-6-20 so that a motorcycle or bicycle rider who reasonably believes a camera-monitored signal is not detecting them may proceed through the intersection under specified conditions, placing the burden of proof on the rider.
- Section 3 defines 'reasonable belief' as requiring observation of at least two light cycle changes of the signal.
- Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91 to require drivers to stop for pedestrians when a rectangular rapid flash beacon is activated and to bar pedestrians from activating it without intending to cross.
- Section 5 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-6-312 to let motorcycles traveling 15 mph or slower pass stationary vehicles in the same lane to reach a turn lane or move through stopped traffic at a signal, removing the prior ban on riding between lanes.
- Section 5 keeps the exemption for police officers performing official duties from these motorcycle lane rules.
- Section 6 makes a conforming update to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-350 governing moped operators' headlight and taillight duties to match the renumbered subsection in Section 5.
From the bill
“'Rectangular rapid flash beacon' means user activated devices which emit irregular flash patterns with amber light emitting diodes (LEDs) that supplement warning signals at unsignalized intersections or mid-block crosswalks.”
“There is no other motor vehicle within 500 feet approaching or entering the same intersection from a different highway, or from the same highway approaching or entering the intersection from the opposite direction”
“No pedestrian shall manually activate or intentionally cause to be activated a rectangular rapid flash beacon or similar device at a crosswalk unless such person intends to cross that roadway.”
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)
- Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
- Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)
- Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
- Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
Topics
- motorcycle laws
- traffic signals
- pedestrian crosswalks
- road safety
- bicycle laws