Slow vehicle lanes

[SaferRides]

There are a succession of slow vehicle lanes going down the Kaimais on the Waikato side. Some of these are quite long to enable trucks to pull over, more like passing lanes than slow vehicle lanes. Most motorists are very reluctant to pull over to let motorcycles pass, probably because they don't consider themselves to be slow! Now I realise that it may not be very clever to pass using the slow vehicle lane, but as it is a marked lane, is it legal to do so?

Just curious after a recent discussion.

[SaferRides]

A quick search found an NZTA leaflet. That recommends pulling into the left lane if there is traffic behind you, which I generally do myself. But the rule says "A driver who is driving at a slow speed that would impede the normal and reasonable movement of any other vehicle" must move into the slow vehicle lane. Nothing about passing on the left.

[nerrrd]

Interesting question, my short take would be if it's a lane, you can use it for passing.

[F5 Dave]

I always use them when I have the van and someone approaching. It's just considerate. But plenty of fuckers don't.

However, if you were a dozy fuck trawling along and eventually noticed a headlight behind you in an uncommon glance in the rear vision mirror.

"Ooh, I best move over. Dorris" - Do you check to see if anyone has suddenly appeared in the left lane?

No you don't.

[neels]

Don't know if it's legal, but as it's a marked lane surely it's no different to using the left lane to pass the slow person in the right lane on a motorway?

Anyway, I have done it once, to pass one of the many NZMCA members who seemingly don't consider themselves to be slow and therefore won't move over. I was however informed by my passenger that it was not acceptable behaviour......

[nerrrd]

Yes it's probably not a wise move for a number of reasons, but so long as you don't break the speed limit etc etc then it's presumably legal.

Reminds me of the time when I optimistically pulled out of a slow vehicle lane to pass an (even) slower vehicle in front, couldn't quite get going fast enough though and by the time I realised, another slower vehicle had taken the place I had, so I had to drop behind them when the lanes merged again. So I guess I was passed in the slow lane in that instance.

[BMWST?]

I reckon a lot of people dont use them because they are ussually very short and it makes for a potentially dangerous merge situation.So they dont move over. And because they are so short they dont consider anyone can actually pass.
As mentioned above it may be legal but I would be very cautious passing on the left there.

[Gremlin]

It is legal, because each lane is recognised in it's own right in NZ, unlike say, the UK, where multiple lanes are recognised together. Hence why in the UK, you can't pass vehicles on the left on the motorway, but it's legal in NZ. What you do have is the general, keep left unless passing but that's focussing on the slow vehicle, not the faster one.

NZTA has absolutely had a campaign in years gone by to re-label passing lanes as slow vehicle lanes (even shortened some), just mind games that make drivers less likely to pull over.

However, as said, vehicles may not be expecting it, or the one in front of you doesn't pull over, but the one in front of it, does.

[SaferRides]

Thanks everyone, confirms what I understood.

[MarkW]

As the owner of several slow vehicles I am exceedingly grateful that the Government has supplied all of these special lanes for me and I use them all of the time. Frequently the lane to the right of the slow vehicle lane is occupied by a fast vehicle that is going slowly. As I am normally by myself (even in my slow car) I commonly end up passing the slow fast vehicle in the right hand lane. You need to be careful though as the drivers of the slow fast vehicles have enormous egos and resent being undertaken by a slow vehicle towing a trailer. If only their driving abilities matched their ego.

[jellywrestler]

Thanks everyone, confirms what I understood.

make sure you take a printout that shows someone with a nickname on the internaughty has confirmed this, so the cop isn't confused when you're pulled up

[SaferRides]

make sure you take a printout that shows someone with a nickname on the internaughty has confirmed this, so the cop isn't confused when you're pulled upI'll keep a copy of the Land Transport Rules on my phone! Fortunately the relevant rules are simple and easily understood.

I'm not going to make a habit of using slow vehicles lanes to pass as the risk/reward ratio is not great. But good to know that it is legal.





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[SaferRides]

As the owner of several slow vehicles I am exceedingly grateful that the Government has supplied all of these special lanes for me and I use them all of the time. Frequently the lane to the right of the slow vehicle lane is occupied by a fast vehicle that is going slowly. As I am normally by myself (even in my slow car) I commonly end up passing the slow fast vehicle in the right hand lane. You need to be careful though as the drivers of the slow fast vehicles have enormous egos and resent being undertaken by a slow vehicle towing a trailer. If only their driving abilities matched their ego.Maybe they should be renamed Fast Vehicle lanes?

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[rastuscat]

Maybe they should be renamed Fast Vehicle lanes?

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That's the problem with the words like "fast". It's all relative, and subject to interpretation.

I really like the 'Keep Left Unless Passing" signs. Kind of simplifies things.

If only it were more strictly enforced.

[jellywrestler]

That's the problem with the words like "fast". It's all relative, and subject to interpretation.

I really like the 'Keep Left Unless Passing" signs. Kind of simplifies things.

If only it were more strictly enforced.

and now they are moving to putting lines on the main lane and you have to cross to go into the slow line there's reluctance to do that from the unsteady on the roads, those that usually need to pull over the most.

[Gremlin]

make sure you take a printout that shows someone with a nickname on the internaughty has confirmed this, so the cop isn't confused when you're pulled up
To be fair to them, they've also been wrong in the past, but who would like to know the ins and outs of every piece of legislation, the nuances and loopholes?

There have been cases where motorcyclists have had to carry letters from commanding officers clarifying certain rules, so it does happen, however, if you try being a cheeky cunt, you're just failing the attitude test in spades...

[BMWST?]

..... however, if you try being a cheeky cunt, you're just failing the attitude test in spades...

And often thats the most important one

[SaferRides]

To be fair to them, they've also been wrong in the past, but who would like to know the ins and outs of every piece of legislation, the nuances and loopholes?

There have been cases where motorcyclists have had to carry letters from commanding officers clarifying certain rules, so it does happen, however, if you try being a cheeky cunt, you're just failing the attitude test in spades...To make it easy for everyone, there is a leaflet on the NZTA website on the subject: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/using-slow-vehicle-bays/using-slow-vehicle-bays-leaflet.pdf

It is a very simple rule, although open to interpretation.

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[jellywrestler]

if you try being a cheeky cunt, you're just failing the attitude test in spades...

i'm simply pointing out the reality of believing anything that's on the internaughty and trusting that it is indeed correct. No references, no idea where on planet earth you are or whether you are a keyboard hero who delights in providing incorrect advice to fuck with others.

[SaferRides]

That's the problem with the words like "fast". It's all relative, and subject to interpretation.

I really like the 'Keep Left Unless Passing" signs. Kind of simplifies things.

If only it were more strictly enforced.A few of those on the Waikato Expressway would be good. Many drivers set their cruise control and sit in the right lane. One day recently I came up behind a line of cars crawling past one vehicle in the left lane.

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[R650R]

I'll keep a copy of the Land Transport Rules on my phone! Fortunately the relevant rules are simple and easily understood.

I'm not going to make a habit of using slow vehicles lanes to pass as the risk/reward ratio is not great. But good to know that it is legal.
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On a long one like Bombay hills south bound you might get away with it.

But in the shorter ones around rest of country you could be up for a police favourite “conducting an improper manoeuvre” or similar wording a referencing the law to overtake in a safe manner.
And while your being a clever bugger shooting past on left what happens if the blissfully unaware slow driver decides to suddenly pullover for whatever reason its game over.

[SaferRides]

On a long one like Bombay hills south bound you might get away with it.

But in the shorter ones around rest of country you could be up for a police favourite “conducting an improper manoeuvre” or similar wording a referencing the law to overtake in a safe manner.
And while your being a clever bugger shooting past on left what happens if the blissfully unaware slow driver decides to suddenly pullover for whatever reason its game over.Bombays is all motorway, but I don't pass on the left before the SH2 junction as so much traffic turns off there.

I generally don't pass on the left of passing lanes as you just don't know what the driver might do and they're unlikely to check before moving into the slow lane.

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