Filtering - Lane Splitting

[ruSTyEB]

A few years back I emailed the then "Queensland Transport" regarding filtering.  For my own curiosity I wanted to know what laws were being broken, so I may talk my way out of a fine

Thought I'd post the reply as I found it interesting.


*QUOTE*

16 November 2007

Thank you for your email below about lane-splitting by motorbikes.

While there is currently no specific rule prohibiting lane-splitting,
there are a number of sections of the Queensland Road Rules that may be
contravened by a motorbike rider while lane-splitting.  I have set out the
particular rules below along with the infringement notice penalty for each
one.  In practice, it would be very difficult for a motorbike rider to
lane-split without contravening some or all of these rules.

changing lanes without signalling for sufficient distance to alert other
road users - penalty of $45 and two demerit points;
failing to stay within a single marked lane or line of traffic - penalty
of $60;
failing to provide a safe distance when passing another vehicle - penalty
of $105 and two demerit points; and
failing to stop at a stop line at traffic lights - penalty of $135 and 3
demerit points.

These rules apply whether or not the traffic either side of the motorbike
is moving or stationary.

It is the responsibility of the Queensland Police Service to enforce these
road rules.

I trust that this answers your question.  If you have any further
questions then please contact me again either by return email or using the
details below and I'll be happy to help you.

Regards

John N Burrill
Senior Advisor (Policy)
Land Transport and Safety Division

*END QUOTE*
 

[Gavo]

That is why i take a position in the traffic and ride like im driving a car.

Not in any great hurry,

Unless i just feel the need ,       the need for speed !

Which ocasionaly i pay the price. Its all part of the game

[ruSTyEB]

Totally agree.  At the time I was riding through Brisbane peak hour traffic on the KLX, and sometimes it was safer to get in front of traffic.

These days no need and I behave.

[Biggles]

changing lanes without signalling for sufficient distance to alert other
road users - penalty of $45 and two demerit points;
failing to stay within a single marked lane or line of traffic - penalty
of $60;
failing to provide a safe distance when passing another vehicle - penalty
of $105 and two demerit points; and
failing to stop at a stop line at traffic lights - penalty of $135 and 3
demerit points.

There's really only one there that would be impossible to adhere to- passing too close to another vehicle.
The other three are achievable- don't change lanes (or if you do, indicate) and don't go beyond the stop line.

Regarding the last one, the number of cars that go beyond the stop line for absolutely no reason whatsoever is staggering.  Of course the Fourbies are champions, probably because they can't see down that far.

When I was "nearly booked" by a Copper I was told lane splitting is illegal.  I'll have to read the rules again, because your letter is now 5 years old, and they make up new laws every week.  And, of course, they're different in every State, even though sins committed in ignorance while interstate will cost you points at home as well as the fine interstate.
It might be like the controversial and "ambiguously legal" cylindrical rego holders where the Qld DOT now print on the back of the rego sticker not to use them.

[alphafang]

Interesting, who decides in law what is a safe distance when passing another vehicle?
Who did the measurements and what makes that the safe measurement?

[terrydj]

When the traffics stopped I'm always the one getting to the front. The front is the best place to be in traffic or not

[Tackleberry]

Fellas I can tell you for sure that the same legislation still applies for lane splitting/filtering in Queensland. 

As for who decides the safety on the distance overtaking a vehicle, would you normally overtake a car at the same distances that you do when you lane split/filter?  I would suggest not, and that is the reasoning I use to determine a 'safe distance' and had Magistrates agree with me in Court.  Individual officers may use other reasoning, but it is the officer at the time when intercepting that decides, and then the Court if you contest the matter.  Most of us just replay the video we have recording and let the magistrate decide.  I have also picked up the riders that haven't had quick enough reaction to the car that does move when they don't expect. 

The answer to your next question is that I have never lane split/filtered, unless under lights getting to the crash at the front of the line to help, and won't do it on my own bike.  Personally I think riders are drawing the crabs on themselves from car drivers by appearing if they are better than everybody else. 

[alphafang]

An interesting reply Steve.
There are the obvious cultural differences to be considered.
But over here we lane split as the norm. Police officers lane split and during training are encouraged to. You can fail your motorcycle test if you don't make progress. It must of course be done safely. Filtering as it's called over here is (or should be) done with extreme care and at low speeds only, if your filtering in steady flowing traffic your going to get a pull for an unsafe manoeuvre. It is illegal on most occasions to undertake. Pass another vehicle on the left. This is one such time.
As to a safe distance I don't know of one been decided in law over here. I like yourself would take that at my discretion. It all depends on what the total actions and outcome were and just a little bit on what sort of day I was having .
I do know that in Florida as part of statute it is written that you must not pass a vehicle motorised or not moving or not within three feet.
Can't get much clearer than that.

[tj189]

Thanks Tack 

[terrydj]

Thanks Tack 

All I know is that car drivers would do it if they could, because I have seen more than a few try

[ruSTyEB]

Cheers Tackle berry, some good insight.  The majority of riders know its illegal, but maybe they think in degrees of wrong.  A small number actually think its 100%legal and will swear black and blue its OK.

that's why God made twisties, a road where the fun hasn't been filtered down

[terrydj]

I know what the laws say, but I also know what keeps me safe. Me being up the front instead of in traffic is safe Me being in traffic doing 10kph when every driver is rushing to get home from work is dangerous, so I'm in the emergency stopping lane, all by myself and safe.
just imagine how safe riders would be if the majority of vehicle drivers obeyed the rules including those that cut the corners in the twisties, come over the top of hills in the middle of the road, and don't move over when the road is a single lane?????
I ride the safest way I know how and if breaking a few rules means I'm safe then the rules are broken.
Ahhhh but then again some professional rider we all see on the TV will tell me different?? but then again that same rider has never held a Motorcycle license and is forbidden to ride on a public road because of his contract

[ruSTyEB]

Hi Terry, sorry mate wasn't having a go at you.  I was talking in general.

In heavy traffic will do the same if it's safe to do so, and I feel the drivers around me are a risk.  It depends on the road, and conditions.  For instance I would always split and get to the front heading north from Abbortsford Rd and into Sandgate Rd through Albion, because you can't be hit by a bad merger when you are in front of them.

It's a bit like speeding, we all go that little bit over the limit at times, and if we happen to get caught, cop it on the chin.  On the highway by myself, I'll regulary sit a metre or two behind a vehicle until I'm seen in the mirrors, then accelarate past them.  During this manouvre I'm usually going 10-20 km above the limit, before resuming my cruising speed.  Whilst this keeps me safer on the road, being 'away' from drivers not looking out, I can still be booked. A risk I'm willing to take.

If we get caught filtering, we need to cop it on the chin, unless we think we have a good case to plead

[terrydj]

Mate no offense.
Only ever stopped by a Cop (Motorcycle) once when in an emergency lane when the rest of the traffic was stopped??? and said the hello and he said his hello and we were off (No Fine). I thinks he knew it was the safe thing to do, or maybe it was because I said my bike was playing up and I may have needed an emergency stop

[ruSTyEB]

 

[Sabie]

Man I see it all the time in Townsville. Never do it. To unsafe. Besides I've pick up and washed the road off for to many riders who thought they were indestructible.

[Aj1300]

This is just opinion, and no disrespect to Tackleberry, if I am stuck in traffic and the car aren't moving I will move through the traffic slowly . I have spoken to mister plod and he said most police on bikes won't get you, it will be the ones in the cars. He did say that if the traffic isn't moving and you are crawling along they will generally let you go

[Sabie]

Sorry, but my experience is more than just opinion......

[Malcolm6112]

I like it on the freeway. Me in my eight wheeler Volvo with trailer, the bikes queue up behind me, cause I'm maximum width.
I agree with Sabie. I've seen to many come to grief with painful consequences.

 

[Sabie]

Thanks Malcolm

Try inserting the hydraulic spreaders (jaws of life - hate that term) into the grill of a kenworth to release a helmet with parts of the rider still there and you'll treat the bike with a bit more respect and trepidation.

Don't take risks, it not just your life your risking..

Sabie

[terrydj]

"WOW" wonder how hard the bike hit the truck or how hard the truck hit the bike????
Had a mate hit a truck on a bike and die and their was bugger all damage to him on the outside. But the inside was a different story.
I was hit by a truck a few years ago, no Jaws of Life but an ambulance trip was kool until a sweet young thing pulled out in front of the Ambulance and hit the breaks.
Ambulances are so hard to see with the bloody lights flashing and a Siren on

[alphafang]

Sabie if we don't take risks as you suggest no one here would ride a motorcycle.

I agree with doing things as safe as possible but any and every action involving the use of a motorcycle is a risk. We should all be aware of that. You just have to minimize that risk as far as possible. If you don't think it's safe don't do it, pretty simple really, remembering that you run the risk of getting pulled over of course.

If you get your helmet stuck in a trucks grill when filtering you were not doing it right. JMHO.

I have to say that I don't like the term lane splitting either, it sounds far too aggressive. It's a term that will get people who don't know fully what the action is, thinking that it's an aggressive action. Filtering is done at low near crawling pace. Not at all aggressive.
Once again JMHO.

[Sabie]

Truck... Prob 100k ...bike, who knows well over 100k.

Risks happen every day, most are acceptable and necessary..... On a bike, I'm talking about unnecessary risks.

I had a bike lane split the other week, I was up with at the next set of lights, so why take the risk..

[Gavo]

That is why i take a position in the traffic and ride like im driving a car.

Not in any great hurry,

                                                                                                   

[Streak]

That is why i take a position in the traffic and ride like im driving a car.

Not in any great hurry,

i am with you, I spend my time in traffic being aware of what is around me, and not increasing my risk :) but each to their own, it is what makes us all individual.....