Riding between lanes now legal for all motorcyclists in France – under certain conditions
Government legalises manoeuvre after eight years of trials
It was only recently announced that the trial on the manoeuvre was to be extended
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The ability for motorcyclists to ‘inter-file’ between lanes during traffic jams has now been legalised across the entirety of France after a new decree came into effect over the weekend.
It means the practice – widely used by motorcyclists but technically illegal outside of a recent trial – is now legal provided certain rules are followed.
The rules of the manoeuvre for two and three-wheeled vehicles are now defined in article R412-11-3 of France’s Code de la route (road safety laws), which also provides rules on illegal moves similar to interfiling and the related penalties – the potential loss of three points from the motorcyclist’s licence and a €135 fine.
In severe infractions, motorcyclists may see their licence suspended for up to three years.
The government recently authorised a last-minute extension to a trial on the manoeuvre, which was originally due to end on January 1, 2025.
This was then extended to last until July 2025, before the recent decree legalised the activity across France.
You can read the decree legalising inter-filing, published in France’s Journal Officiel on Thursday (January 9) here. The rules came into effect from Saturday (January 11).
What are the finalised rules?
The main rules include the following:
Inter-filing is now legal for motorised two- or three-wheeled vehicles which are less than one meter in width.
It can only be done where there are at least two roads, separated by a central reservation, with at least two lanes each and with a usual speed limit of between 70 km/h - 130 km/h (or where this was the previous limit and has been lowered, such as Paris’ périphérique road).
Intention to both inter-file and return to the main lanes must be made clear (i.e by using the vehicle’s indicators).
Motorcyclists must overtake only using the furthest-left lane possible, and cannot drive faster than 50 km/h when inter-filing.
If traffic on any of the lanes is completely stationary, they are limited to a 30 km/h speed limit.
A vehicle that is inter-filing cannot overtake another that is also inter-filing.
Inter-filing is banned if road conditions are dangerous (snowy or icy roads, etc) and when there are roadworks on the lanes concerned.
The full and detailed list of rules is available through the Sécurité routière.
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Report backs safety of measure
The act of inter-filing – driving between lanes of traffic during a traffic jam – has been a widespread manoeuvre by motorcyclists for many years, although it was never legalised in the Code de la route.
Two successive trials, between 2016 - 2021 and 2021 - 2024 tested the safety of motorcyclists authorised to use the manoeuvre in departments around Paris and the south of France.
The results of these trials have now been evaluated by CEREMA (a national evaluatory body).
“The latest report validates the modalities of safe practice… In particular, it points to a stable accident rate, and emphasises that the issues at stake are concentrated on two-wheeler drivers who do not respect the defined rules, mainly speed,” said the Sécurité Routière in a statement.
This report was used as the basis for legalising inter-filing by the government.
You can read the full report by CEREMA here.
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