---
title: HB 461. Motorcycle Mobility Safety Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb461
cite_as: HB 461, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb461
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb461.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb461/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70348
date: 2026-02-24
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 319
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb461.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 461
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-13
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- Brad Thomas
- Alan Powell
- Danny Mathis
- Derrick McCollum
- Brent Cox
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB461/2025
upstream_id: 1970359
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- motorcycle laws
- traffic signals
- pedestrian crosswalks
- road safety
- bicycle laws
---
# HB 461. Motorcycle Mobility Safety Act; enact
## Text
The House Committee on Motor Vehicles offers the following substitute to HB 461:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and
traffic, so as to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for the safe operation of a
motorcycle or bicycle through certain inoperative traffic-control devices and signals; to
require drivers of motor vehicles to stop at crosswalks with pedestrian activated rectangular
rapid flash beacons; to make it unlawful to activate such devices when there is no intent to
cross a roadway; to authorize the operation of motorcycles to overtake or pass stationary
motor vehicles in the same lane as such motorcycle in certain instances; to provide for a
conforming change; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Motorcycle Mobility Safety Act."
SECTION 2.
Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, is
amended in Code Section 40-1-1, relating to definitions, by revising paragraph (50.01) as
follows:
"(50.01) '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. Such devices may be
activated by pedestrians manually by a push button or passively by a pedestrian detection
system. 'Recreational off-highway vehicle' means a motorized vehicle designed for
off-road use which is equipped with four or more nonhighway tires and which is 65
inches or less in width."
SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-6-20, relating to obedience to traffic-control
devices required, presumptions, and red light cameras, by revising subsections (a) and (e) as
follows:
"(a) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of an official traffic-control
device applicable thereto, placed in accordance with this chapter, unless otherwise directed
by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency
vehicle in this chapter. A violation of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor, except as
otherwise provided by paragraph (2) of subsection (e) and subsection (f) of this Code
section."
"(e)(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the The disregard or
disobedience of the instructions of any official traffic-control device or signal placed in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter by the driver of a vehicle shall be deemed
prima-facie evidence of a violation of law, without requiring proof of who and by what
authority such sign or device has been erected.
(2) If a driver has stopped pursuant to the instructions of a traffic-control device or signal
at an intersection which utilizes recorded image or surveillance technology and has a
reasonable belief that the traffic-control device or signal is inoperative due to the
lightweight design of his or her motorcycle or bicycle, the driver may disregard or
disobey the instructions of the traffic-control device or signal and proceed through the
intersection, provided that:
(A) 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; and
(B) The driver cautiously proceeds through the intersection with reasonable care and
consideration for all other applicable rules of the road.
Nothing in this paragraph shall restrict a driver from making a right turn as provided for
in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-21.
(3) A driver who acts or purports to act pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall
maintain the burden of proving that he or she acted in accordance with paragraph (2) of
this subsection. Such driver's cause or proximate cause of an accident while acting or
purporting to act pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be prima-facie
evidence that such driver did not exercise the requisite level of caution, care, or
consideration required for compliance with the law.
(4) As used in this subsection, the term 'reasonable belief' means the belief of a
reasonable driver in consideration of the conditions of his or her stop and shall include
the observation of at least two light cycle changes of a nearby traffic-control device or
signal."
SECTION 4.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 40-6-91, relating to right of way in
crosswalks, as follows:
"40-6-91.
(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the
roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon
which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane
of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For
the purposes of this subsection, 'half of the roadway' means all traffic lanes carrying traffic
in one direction of travel.
(b) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the
roadway within a crosswalk when an approved rectangular rapid flash beacon or similar
device has been activated.
(c) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into
the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield. 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.
(c)(d) Subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply under the conditions stated in
subsection (b) of Code Section 40-6-92.
(d)(e) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked
crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any
other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle."
SECTION 5.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 40-6-312, relating to operating
motorcycle on roadway laned for traffic, as follows:
"40-6-312.
(a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, and no motor vehicle shall be driven
in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection
shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.
(b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not be authorized to overtake and pass in the same
lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken when:
(1) The motorcycle is being driven to overtake and pass stationary vehicles or gain
access to an adjacent turning lane while such stationary vehicles are waiting for the
change of direction for a traffic-control signal; and
(2) The motorcycle is traveling at a speed of 15 miles per hour or less.
(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines
or rows of vehicles.
(d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.
(e)(d) A person operating a motorcycle shall at all times keep his the headlights and
taillights illuminated.
(f)(e) Subsection Subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section shall not apply to police
officers in the performance of their official duties."
SECTION 6.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 40-6-350, relating to traffic laws
applicable to persons operating mopeds, as follows:
"40-6-350.
Every person operating a moped shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all
the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter except as to
special regulations in this part and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by
their nature can have no application. However, the operator of a moped shall not be
required to comply with subsection (e) (d) of Code Section 40-6-312, relating to headlights
and taillights, or subsection (b) of Code Section 40-6-315, relating to windshields and
eye-protective devices."
SECTION 7.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
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.
### Plain-language summary
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 it 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-13)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-02-24)
- Sponsors: Brad Thomas, Alan Powell, Danny Mathis, Derrick McCollum, Brent Cox
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70348
> The history, votes, and amendments (319 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb461.md?full=1