Lane splitting letter to DomPost 27 Dec 2013

[pzkpfw]

Anyone see this, this morning?

Dangerous riders breaking the law

I'm concerned at motorcyclists who ride incorrectly through Ngauranga Gorge. I travel this route daily and am disappointed by some of these riders who ride between two lanes of traffic with no consideration for other vehicles.

According to the Land Transport Act, motorcyclists aren't allowed to ride through traffic. It says: "If the traffic has not stopped, then motorcycles using hazard lights while moving through slower traffic are advertising their actions and constitute a hazard and are in contravention of Sections 7 & 8 of the LTA."

Is it any wonder that the fees charged to bike riders' insurance et cetera are expensive.

I would like to advise other vehicle users on all motorways to look at how this behaviour is dangerous.
GK, Tawa

Apart from all the other bollocks, I'm interested in the claim it's specifically "illegal".

His own quote mentions hazards lights on, but I thought the accepted wisdom is that lane splitting essentially meant overtaking on the right of a vehicle, within its lane - so staying to the left of the lane divider and having the right indicator on was "correct" (and technically "legal").

Comments? Will now search for the legislation he's quoted ...

[pzkpfw]

OK, Sections 7 & 8 of the LTA are just about being reckless etc. Not yet found the splitting with hazards on bit.

(I have previously seen advice in an on-line road code not to split, but that's not the same as legislation.)

[caspernz]

Meh, none of this legal or illegal stuff means anything until you get bowled...

I must admit though, some mornings the hardcore riders who insist on still sliding thru between cars and trucks coming down the Ngauranga in the rush hour traffic...when the margin for error is tiny...yup I can see how a cager can get annoyed at that

[roogazza]

He got beaten to work huh ! you get that.

[MSTRS:Me]

Lane splitting is neither legal nor illegal. It is a grey area. There are 'guidelines' - shall we say - for doing it safely, or at least as safe as possible, but a zealous cop can and will ticket as an illegal overtaking manoeuvre. It is then up to the rider to prove the ticket is false...

[Big Dave]

[SMOKEU]

Where are these "hazard lights" that the writer speaks of?

[BMWST?]

perhaps its the use of hazards in this situation that is illegall

[swbarnett]

Where are these "hazard lights" that the writer speaks of?

On US imports. Mine's got them.

[Madness]

On US imports. Mine's got them.

And on mine, a NZ-new Canadian spec bike. Loads of bikes have 'em.

[dangerous]

KB cranked up in what 02ish 11 odd years and every month a thread on bloody lane spliting, reckon it out does oil threads and do ya scrunch or fold ya dunny paper threads...

IIRC you can only split on the right of a car AND wihten the lane (no crossing the center or deviding line) WITH ya right hand indercator on.
but IMO any twat that needs or wants to split cant complain when it turns bad its a unnessary and stupid thing to do (south Is) more so aceptable in stalled traffic in the north IS) either way cagers dislike it so expect the flak and dont bitch when ya end up on ya arse and bikeless. and before ya pro spliters hook into me, yes I have and do very rearley split, then again I speed aswell, do the crime get cought do the time.

[Berries]

Anyone got a translater?

[BMWST?]

Anyone got a translater?

dont whinge and suck it up if ya get pinged

[dangerous]

dont whinge and suck it up if ya get pinged

yeah and only a fark wit would split lol

[rastuscat]

Look at Rule 2.6 to 2.11 of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004..

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...resel_25_a&p=1

It's not in the Land Transport Act, unless you're talking Careless Driving, at Section 37.

The biggest problem is Rule 2.6. It introduces a subjective judgement as to what is safe.

Nothing has changed. It's all about interpretation.