Crossing the centre line?

**earl** · 4th October 2009, 22:43

With regard to the tightening of the 'Keep Left" rules,What does crossing the centerline mean on a bike? Is it where the tires are or where your head is if leaned over.. Common sense dictates the safety answer but in court after they have ticketed you in a camera case?????

**Yeah_Right** · 5th October 2009, 00:05

I would say where your tires are but hey, i am no lawyer!

**retro asian** · 5th October 2009, 00:07

Isn't that the argument for legal lane-splitting? As long as your tires aren't over the centre line?

**YellowDog** · 5th October 2009, 04:56

The rule has to state, "any part of the vehicle".

You, your pillion, and your riding gear constitute part of the vehicle.

**Yeah_Right** · 5th October 2009, 05:14

So, i am riding half a meter from the center lane and my passenger points across to the other side of the road.

Their hand puts my vehicle into the oncoming lane and I can lawfully be said to have crossed the center line?

Puts a whole new meaning to "Keep your hands inside the ride at all times."

**Jantar** · 5th October 2009, 07:33

Originally Posted by YellowDog

The rule has to state, "any part of the vehicle".

You, your pillion, and your riding gear constitute part of the vehicle.

That is the rule. But it would be a hard one to prove other than tyres, even with photgraphic evidence as parallax etc can make it appear worse than actual, or even show a bike as being safe when most of the bike is way over.

**Patrick** · 5th October 2009, 13:53

Post up the photo. Then we can discuss.......

**Zuki lover** · 5th October 2009, 14:16

crossing the centerline what centerline

**earl** · 5th October 2009, 23:40

no photo-this was just hypothetical,a friend got pinged with a camera recently-he was well over on this occasion...

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th October 2009, 08:06

There's almost never an acceptable excuse/reason for crossing the centreline whilst cornering. It's simply lazy riding. I have no sympathy for anyone caught doing it.
In saying that, I do take issue with the camera stings though...they are never set up on corners where it is dangerous to cross.
Where there is clear road visible through the next 3 (say) corners, where's the harm, you might say? The harm is that it is habit-forming, and we all know that practising something wires it into the brain.

**jaykay** · 6th October 2009, 08:29

The Police in the UK are taught to straighten out the bends when driving, but of course NZ is a world leader in road safety so does the opposite.

Can anyone post what offence has been committed by crossing a dashed centre line? ie what the legislation actually says.

Is overtaking legal in NZ?

**caseye** · 6th October 2009, 10:50

Originally Posted by earl

With regard to the tightening of the 'Keep Left" rules,What does crossing the centerline mean on a bike? Is it where the tires are or where your head is if leaned over.. Common sense dictates the safety answer but in court after they have ticketed you in a camera case?????

More information required.
Because if "any part of bike or riders" crosses a solid yellow line on your side of the road then yes an offence has been committed.

If you are referring to an ordinary dashed white centre line, no yellows either side.
Then the obligation is as always to simply stay as close to the left hand side of the entire road as is practicable.
Simply crossing that line momentarily, for instance, in a twisty but visible stretch of road crossing the line to straighten out the road is certainly never was and should never be an offence.

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th October 2009, 10:56

Originally Posted by caseye

Simply crossing that line momentarily, for instance, in a twisty but visible stretch of road crossing the line to straighten out the road is certainly never was and should never be an offence.

I think you will find that it always was an offence, it's just that it was largely ignored. Now it's a legitimate revenue source...

**Patrick** · 6th October 2009, 12:21

Originally Posted by MSTRS

I think you will find that it always was an offence, it's just that it was largely ignored. Now it's a legitimate revenue source...

I think you will find that due to the amount of headons, someone is on the wrong side of the road...

What is wrong with your side of the road? What is wrong with staying on your side?

Why would anyone want to straighten up a bend when on a bike???/ Twisties = Yahoo....

Lazy driving/riding is just that....

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th October 2009, 12:25

Originally Posted by Patrick

I think you will find that due to the amount of headons, someone is on the wrong side of the road...

What is wrong with your side of the road? What is wrong with staying on your side?

Why would anyone want to straighten up a bend when on a bike???/ Twisties = Yahoo....

Lazy driving/riding is just that....

I agree totally. See my first post...