Call for motorcyclists to stop 'lane splitting' overtaking after 10 riders die in Jan

[Berries]

I shall be lodging a formal complaint with the Press Council

Not sure that that is going to help reduce the number of people throwing their lives away. Ten dead is ten dead, regardless of the sensational and bullshit headline and dubious reporting throughout the article.

[Ixion]

Not sure that that is going to help reduce the number of people throwing their lives away. Ten dead is ten dead, regardless of the sensational and bullshit headline and dubious reporting throughout the article.

Actually, it may. The Stuff argument is 'ten motorcyclists died because of lane splitting. Ban lane splitting and solve the problem'.

Actually, no. Fake news, fake solution. If lane splitting were banned it would have made no difference at all to any of the ten crashes. But an anti lane splitting pogrom will prevent any attention being given to genuine solutions. Fake news, fake answers never solve real problems. They just get in the way. Fake news by the MSM should always be called out.

[actungbaby]

Have to agree. And Clive Double-Barrel actually made sensible comments.

Assistant commissioner for road policing Sandra Venables said half of the motorcycle deaths had been caused by dangerous overtaking, and she urged motorcyclists not to take unnecessary risks. - there's a big difference between lane splitting in a sensible manner and a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, although both involve an element of risk.

Biggest issue with lane splitting is that NZ drivers can not drive to the left of the road or the left of their lane...

Havent read yet . no point me saying how i ride as that just personall view.
You think with way better power weight ratio. it should be safer.
But i guess some are using that to push the limits time over distance.
or thinking they have more time. or is it over taking on corners. on winding roads behind slower vechiles .maybe they need to to be more specific.
okay i say i dont really over take even on the open road never have . even in my mx5 car . you always just end up behind a carevan or truck anyways. not that saying trucks are slow or anoying . there just heavy. my view is anytime you on the other side the road there risk and i just dont want take that chance for a few maybe mins . my Uncle ex commisioninar of poilice . said it doesint make much time and why do it . he drove all oaver the north island for the job. so i guess he knows better than most. was a pleasure drive in his car . was so safe . and travelled quickly but never broke the speed limit.

[speedpro]

GPS is great for providing information - like predicted arrival time. Get stuck behind some slow dumbass for a time and watch the arrival time tick away. Not overtaking when safe opportunities present can easily add 1/2 hour to a decent trip, or more.

[russd7]

Havent read yet . no point me saying how i ride as that just personall view.
You think with way better power weight ratio. it should be safer.
But i guess some are using that to push the limits time over distance.
or thinking they have more time. or is it over taking on corners. on winding roads behind slower vechiles .maybe they need to to be more specific.
okay i say i dont really over take even on the open road never have . even in my mx5 car . you always just end up behind a carevan or truck anyways. not that saying trucks are slow or anoying . there just heavy. my view is anytime you on the other side the road there risk and i just dont want take that chance for a few maybe mins . my Uncle ex commisioninar of poilice . said it doesint make much time and why do it . he drove all oaver the north island for the job. so i guess he knows better than most. was a pleasure drive in his car . was so safe . and travelled quickly but never broke the speed limit.

yeah, i call bullshit on that, as an example, trip from Riverton to Queenstown airport is about 195km and can be done easily in 2 hrs

the trip from Welcome Bay in tauranga to auckland airport is 199km and took us 3 hrs thanks to dickheads not passing when they could do so safely,

and as a side note, I have it on very good authority that the trip from Riverton to Queenstown has been done considerably quicker than 2 hrs, the devils staircase is awesome in the wee small hrs of the morning, really heightens the senses

[granstar]

Was at rodeo today, riding a bull seems a lot more dangerous than overtaking, WTF has group rides got to do with this, just asking?

[FJRider]

Actually, it may. The Stuff argument is 'ten motorcyclists died because of lane splitting.

That is NOT what the article actually SAID.

They stated Lane splitting should be banned because 10 motorcyclists died on our roads and Lane splitting is dangerous.

Read it carefully for yourself and see.

[husaberg]

Some of the most dangerous overtaking I have seen happens on group rides due to pressure to keep up.

Nice troll Steve.

[Akzle]

, WTF has group rides got to do with this, just asking?

nothing. not one damn thing at all.

[Akzle]

Some of the most dangerous overtaking I have seen happens on group rides due to pressure to keep up.

you're a fuckwit

[pritch]

too tired to realise 2400 isn't a time?

Well the military would normally use 2359 rather than 2400 but that's OK.

[granstar]

nothing. not one damn thing at all.

Thank You um...

[Jeff Sichoe]

I don't lanesplit as there are too many variables outside of my control, more power to those who do however.

I've never met anyone who had a minor incident while splitting to face anything worse than repair $ and a bruised ego.

Unsafe Overtaking on the open road, on the other hand, is quite a different story. The article fails to make that clear to the non-motorcyclist and conflates an 'annoying' activity (lane splitting) with a seriously dangerous and deadly activity (a fucked up overtake at 100+)

The only time i've almost piked it and caused an accident has been when I make the wrong decision in an overtake. It's only happened twice over the last 20 odd years but both times would have resulted in me not existing anymore. 100% my choice to enter the overtake, I cannot lay the blame at 'group rides' 'pressure to keep up' or even being a young hot head with a need for speed. If I had seen how close things were to complete failure I never would have entered the scenario. The problem is, you're cruising along at 140 past a line of cars, the gap to oncoming traffic is less than you thought it was. You now have two options, pin it and get ahead of the cars, or slow right down and try to merge back in. Neither option is really that great, and there is no reason to put yourself into it if you are making the right calls in the first place.

Eat and drink more than you think you need, especially on long days, and if you've been riding all day the danger point is about 2 or 3pm. Take it easy, take a break and make sure you don't make a wrong call on the most important decision of your life.

[granstar]

In my youth eons ago was passing a sheep truck and trailer, about half way past it the coil leads rattled out of the coils (old Triumph-lol) and the bike faltered, I just made it past the truck before a head on with an oncoming. Didn't allow for that to happen otherwise would have been a safe pass. A tube of silicone for the leads to make them stay and change of grundies and iv'e continued riding with an attitude where I leave plenty of room to pass safely and then some as there is no guarantee an oncoming is sitting at the legal speed.
Modern bikes have the power to fly by safely; one thing iv'e had happen a few times while sitting back waiting for a safe pass behind a truck, the driver pulls to the left (perhaps being curtious?) and sprays you with roadside gravel and dust.

[Daffyd]

and as a side note, I have it on very good authority that the trip from Riverton to Queenstown has been done considerably quicker than 2 hrs, the devils staircase is awesome in the wee small hrs of the morning, really heightens the senses

I once did Queenstown to Invercargill in 90 minutes in a Series 1 Honda Civic. I must confess, though it was not from or to the town centres.