Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[McShanNZ]

I don't indicate

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I agree with ptroy - not that I have a lot of opportunity to filter, but my thought is if doing sub 40kp/h, passing to the right of the vehicle in front within the same lane, I can't see the need to indicate as you are not moving out of the lane into another.

Just a thought.

[f2dz]

I agree with ptroy - not that I have a lot of opportunity to filter, but my thought is if doing sub 40kp/h, passing to the right of the vehicle in front within the same lane, I can't see the need to indicate as you are not moving out of the lane into another.

Just a thought.

I believe you still have to indicate. Refer to this: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ro...g/passing.html

Still counts as passing on the right which I think means you still have to indicate for at least three seconds before passing.

[newbie2012]

I do the middle/fast lane split with right indicator on, then indicate if going into middle lane or cancel indicator if move into fast lane. Always give a wave or couple of hazard flashes to thank car behind when pulled in, seems to keep everyone sweet. Guess whatever works for each of us.

[haydes55]

I do the middle/fast lane split with right indicator on, then indicate if going into middle lane or cancel indicator if move into fast lane. Always give a wave or couple of hazard flashes to thank car behind when pulled in, seems to keep everyone sweet. Guess whatever works for each of us.

Call me a weirdo, but I never have an indicator on unless I'm turning. When I see people over taking leaving their indicators on, I wonder if they are turning off mid overtake. You have indicated to enter the lane, once in the lane (legally speaking the right side of the left lane), you can switch it off as you no longer have to indicate a turn.

[MIXONE]

I was talking to a bike cop on the day of the Bikoi and he told me to keep my indicator on at all times while splitting.

[newbie2012]

Oooooo now that was creepy.

Splitting down my local motorway at probably 50-60km and glimpse a white helmet on the side if the road. Thought "Oh I just passed my first bike cop while splitting" and keep going.

Glance behind me and there he is. Splitting behind me. Boy did that slow me down to 40-50k!! Stayed behind me for a while then pulled into traffic when the spaces opened up and I just kept going.

Man that was unnerving!!

Comforting to know that they didn't ping you though. Thanks for being an unintentional live test case :-)

[McShanNZ]

I believe you still have to indicate. Refer to this: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ro...g/passing.html

Still counts as passing on the right which I think means you still have to indicate for at least three seconds before passing.

Fair comment, good example too. Noticing the overtaking within the lane but not crossing the yellow line... I probably would wait that scenario out, then again I'm a patient fellow - not that you would get room to pass most cagers in said scenario I suspect.

[Juniper]

Comforting to know that they didn't ping you though. Thanks for being an unintentional live test case :-)

Haha yeah, thats why it was unerving!

[swbarnett]

Well its simple really. There are two types of "lane splitters"
Type 1 filter considerately with minimal speed differential unlikely to incur caged wrath or revenue collector attention.
Type 2 Ride the lane line like Rossi wannabes with no consideration, likely to get cageer wrath, revenue attention and free Ambo ride in their inevitable future.

Of course the real truth is that most riders are at some point between the two.

[swbarnett]

If you do continuously indicate, which direction do you indicate?

Both.

Helps to have a bike with hazard lights. Now that I've got them I can't understand why most bikes don't.

[newbie2012]

Of course the real truth is that most riders are at some point between the two.

+1 to that, especially in the eyes a other road users, even if we do not see it

[Busa11]

I was once pulled over for lane splitting. I was told had to put on indicators when changing lanes even if lane splitting and was told leaving on the indicator on one side is not legal nor is hasard lights on. I even beeen told cant change from the right lane to left lane as thats undertaking. I know passing on the shoulder is illegale.
looks to me ever cop just makes up the rules as he fells like on that particular day

[Swoop]

I usually split between the middle lane and the fast lane and indicate right the entire time to show that I'm overtaking the people in the middle lane, which is legal.

If I'm merging back into a lane I indicate into that lane then cancel my indicator, eg. moving into the middle lane I change to indicating left then cancel it once I'm in the centre of the lane.

+1.
One indicator (right hand) confirming that I'm overtaking the traffic to my left. Hazard lights are just going to confuse drivers.

[swbarnett]

Hazard lights are just going to confuse drivers.

Have you tried it?

I've used hazard lights for the past year on Auckland's southern motorway (120km round trip daily). The traffic has reacted very favourably. The drivers seem way more decisive than when I was splitting with only one indicator going.

[haydes55]

+1.

One indicator (right hand) confirming that I'm overtaking the traffic to my left. Hazard lights are just going to confuse drivers.

How is it different to leaving an indicator on whilst overtaking cars?

If you aren't changing direction, lanes or pulling over, what is the indicator indicating? If I was in a car and saw a bike just appear beside me then see it's indicating into my lane, I'd brake to allow them to merge with me. Then get pissed off that they were indicating to merge, and I was considerate and they weren't actually merging. Or if I was an aucklander, I would close the gap up with the car in front and block the bike from merging.

How do you indicate to merge then? Or do you have to merge to the left lane?

Indicating to go in a straight line is pointless, and stupid. Exception being round about where you indicate to exit.