Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[swbarnett]

The deal is I'd like to hear from Bykey cop /scumdog nodman etc to get the legal definition of what we can and can't do.

Please make sure it's clear where they operate. The attitude of an Auckland cop may vary widely from those in the lower south.

[FROSTY:Me]

Please make sure it's clear where they operate. The attitude of an Auckland cop may vary widely from those in the lower south.

Concidering this thread was started nine years ago I'd say things mighta changed a bit

[Juniper]

Bare in mind that it's up to the individual cops nature.

From what I understand legally we are allowed to filter as it is moving past stationary cars (as says in the road code somewhere)
Splitting is down to the cop. They can do you for overtaking on the left. As that is illegal. But in saying that they let us get away with it as long as you are not being stupid. And that was told to me by a bike cop in uniform.

It's the same as when you get a ticket. If they ping you at 122 in a 100km zone they can do you for exactly that. As that was the speed they got you at. HOWEVER depending on that police officers mood they might just do you at 119 to save you from that extra set of demerits. And my friends had that happen while I was on the back.

Be nice to your cops if they are lenient on you. But if not just take it. You were in the wrong.

Another mate was done for speeding and he didn't have his L plate on. The cop have him the ticket for the speed but let him off for the L plate. So I'd take the ticket and say thank you very much sir. Otherwise he might just do you for the L plate too.

[swbarnett]

Concidering this thread was started nine years ago I'd say things mighta changed a bit

I came to this thread from an update email that said it was new. It wasn't until after I'd posted that I realised it wasn't. I tried to delete the post but it wouldn't let me.

[Sis]

I got my AMA (AMerican Motorcycle Association) magazine the other day.
There was an article on Lane splitting written by David Kinaan retired 2012 as the supervisor of the California Highway Patrol Academy Motorcycle Training Unit.

I have attached it (and hoe you can read it)
Interesting reading and I have found that passing traffic only 10 mph faster is about right. You have to allow for the riding on the right and make the switch to left. I really picked up on the cops wanting to be able to lane split for traffic or emergency reasons. If lane splitting was to be made illegal, even the cops wouldn't be able to do it. And just maybe that is the real reason, lane splitting has been left alone here too.

[Berries]

If lane splitting was to be made illegal, even the cops wouldn't be able to do it.

What, like parking on a motorway?

[newbie2012]

It's not an alternative line of thought. You delivered it in the hectoring tones of one who suspects that someone is doing it wrong.

no intent of hectoring or pre-judgement

[newbie2012]

It's not an alternative line of thought. You delivered it in the hectoring tones of one who suspects that someone is doing it wrong.

No intent to hector or pre-judge. Seriously.

Where I was coming from - I tend to split up to 40 then pull in, as I'm uncomfortable at much higher speed (plus my brain can't process any more and remain aware of what is happening around me) . Quite a few riders will split at faster speeds than me and make better speed through the traffic. I'll often wave other riders past me each morning.

So, what speed do other riders think is reasonable for splitting ?

[pzkpfw]

...

So, what speed do other riders think is reasonable for splitting ?

In general I'll split up to within around 10km - 20 km of the speed limit, then just go with the traffic. So if the motorway has it's 60 km limit on, if the traffic is doing 50 km I'll just slot in with the flow. Or if it's got the 100 km limit on, I might just slot in to traffic doing 80 km or more.

From the other direction, I won't go more than 10 or 20 km faster than the traffic. So if it's doing 50 km in 100 km area, I'll probably do 60 km or so; certainly not 100 km just because that's the limit!

Disclaimer: I have to take my eyes off the road in front to see my speedo, so while splitting I don't watch it all. So my speeds are estimates.

[gjm]

This is kind-of an extension of the splitting discussion... Anyone who has used any two-lane highway for any period of time will know there are those who sit in the right hand lane at 95-97km/h, and have absolutely no intention of moving into the left hand lane. They will stay there (for example) from outside Rangiriri through to Huntly, regardless of whether there is any traffic in the left lane.

Is it illegal to pass on the left?

[Gremlin]

Is it illegal to pass on the left?

Pass in a separate lane on the left. Legal.

Pass in the same lane on the left. Illegal.

[Ender EnZed]

Is it illegal to pass on the left?

Not in NZ.

[gjm]

Pass in a separate lane on the left. Legal.

Pass in the same lane on the left. Illegal.

Not in NZ.

I thought it was legal - just checking.

[soopa]

I've had a learner for a couple of months now and just had a minor incidient. It's probabaly my fault but just want a few my opinions. Came up to a intersection on a red light, filtered through to first car. The light changes green as I'm just behind the passenger door of the first car and thats when I made contact with my left handlebar to his right mirror. It seemed to me that the gap closed as soon as both cars either side of me moved out and I got stuck in between I'm in the process of getting some camera footage of the incident from the traffic lights.

[Juniper]

I've had a learner for a couple of months now and just had a minor incidient. It's probabaly my fault but just want a few my opinions. Came up to a intersection on a red light, filtered through to first car. The light changes green as I'm just behind the passenger door of the first car and thats when I made contact with my left handlebar to his right mirror. It seemed to me that the gap closed as soon as both cars either side of me moved out and I got stuck in between I'm in the process of getting some camera footage of the incident from the traffic lights.

Hmmmm I'm thinking its a mixture of you being legally at fault and bad luck.

Moving past stationary cars: Legal
Cars start moving: Classes as splitting.

That's happened to me a few times and its a case of knowing the lights (like seeing when the other ones are about to go red, or knowing when these ones went red) and when it does catch you out either pin it ahead of them or indicate and pull into a lane. I've found probably 85% of the time a car will let you slide in front of them.