Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Akzle]

holy fuken lack of search, robin.

[Swoop]

Standing traffic much safer, the fuckers don't get to change lanes without indicating/"flash and go", etc, etc.
I discovered the Southern Motorway Carpark is particularly bad for this type of behaviour.

Sounds like another "rule" has been dreamed up by Mr Plod.

[Runt]

I've been lane splitting for 35 years - which includes 10 years despatch riding/couriering - I've never hit the deck while lane splitting,and still "split" through hundreds of cars every week - probably hundreds every workday in fact
I have my own "rules" which don't necessarily match those of the law - but have kept me alive with all my limbs attached for well over a million km.
I never indicate while lane splitting - but always do when actually lane changing or merging - If Mr bored car driver spots your indicator 2 cars back he's more likely to assume you are just changing lanes rather than coming through.
When there is a gap in the traffic ahead - don't speed up! -slow down! (or at least be ready be ready to) - cars see a gap and then suddenly pull across, But when they are bumper to bumper - they can only cross lanes slowly.
Keep the revs up - (but not obnoxiously so) - just enough so you'll have power on tap if you need a quick surge when someone does start to turn into you.
When a car ahead starts to move across - then sh!ts himself when he spots you ... don't beep and hurl abuse etc ...wave him through, he's more likely to look first in the future .... and he won't be thinking .... "effing bikers... I should have just hit him"
Don't be scared of trucks! - but don't start to split by them when you cant see its clear and straight all the way, Truckers are usually fairly good drivers ...get into their mirror view and they'll often wave you through when they can see its clear and you can't.
Don't use breakdown lanes - seems to piss people off - and don't pass on the left of a single lane even when the gaps twice as big as the gap on the right- 90% of left turning traffic won't look at all - and probably half won't even indicate. (Some exceptions to this of course - if you are turning left ahead or if the lanes are merging- but do use the indicators in these cases)

And ... every now and then maybe once or twice a month .. you just get a feeling you shouldn't take a perfectly safe looking gap - you may never know why - and there may actually be no reason... but back off anyway .... you're picking up a dodgy signal without it registering in the frontal lobes (driver twisting his head prior to swerving?? alien invasion in the clouds??? oily refection on a puddle??? who knows?? - but trust your gut)
Well ..... thats my first post - I'll try again in another 35 years

[Juniper]

I've been lane splitting for 35 years - which includes 10 years despatch riding/couriering - I've never hit the deck while lane splitting,and still "split" through hundreds of cars every week - probably hundreds every workday in fact
I have my own "rules" which don't necessarily match those of the law - but have kept me alive with all my limbs attached for well over a million km.
I never indicate while lane splitting - but always do when actually lane changing or merging - If Mr bored car driver spots your indicator 2 cars back he's more likely to assume you are just changing lanes rather than coming through.
When there is a gap in the traffic ahead - don't speed up! -slow down! (or at least be ready be ready to) - cars see a gap and then suddenly pull across, But when they are bumper to bumper - they can only cross lanes slowly.
Keep the revs up - (but not obnoxiously so) - just enough so you'll have power on tap if you need a quick surge when someone does start to turn into you.
When a car ahead starts to move across - then sh!ts himself when he spots you ... don't beep and hurl abuse etc ...wave him through, he's more likely to look first in the future .... and he won't be thinking .... "effing bikers... I should have just hit him"
Don't be scared of trucks! - but don't start to split by them when you cant see its clear and straight all the way, Truckers are usually fairly good drivers ...get into their mirror view and they'll often wave you through when they can see its clear and you can't.
Don't use breakdown lanes - seems to piss people off - and don't pass on the left of a single lane even when the gaps twice as big as the gap on the right- 90% of left turning traffic won't look at all - and probably half won't even indicate. (Some exceptions to this of course - if you are turning left ahead or if the lanes are merging- but do use the indicators in these cases)

And ... every now and then maybe once or twice a month .. you just get a feeling you shouldn't take a perfectly safe looking gap - you may never know why - and there may actually be no reason... but back off anyway .... you're picking up a dodgy signal without it registering in the frontal lobes (driver twisting his head prior to swerving?? alien invasion in the clouds??? oily refection on a puddle??? who knows?? - but trust your gut)
Well ..... thats my first post - I'll try again in another 35 years

Wow I actually entirely agree. Those are all rules that I have thought of myself as every now and then I attempt it. Or am stuck in my car and see others go past.
I also stay in lower gear because someone said that noise saves lives when I complained that my modified pipes were too loud for me.

I think for the first wee while commuting (when she's feeling better again) I will wear that dorky Fluro vest. Just until I am more confident that I can get out of stick situations. , that and going slow. As a driver, and a bad one at that, they do actually make a difference. Along with those bullet light things. I still ride like they haven't seen me tho, and tbh drive better too.

When I see proper riders coming up behind me I always move aside as soon as I can. It's not their fault I'm a learner.

[strandedinnz]

Well ..... thats my first post - I'll try again in another 35 years

Nice first post :-)

But I'm sure some here will find fault with you ;-)

[rastuscat]

Dear God

Here we go again.

The Popos do not enforce the Road Code. They enforce legislation.

The legislation does not make reference to filtering, lane splitting, small furry animals or a variety of other things that the Road Code mentions. 2 second rule? No mention of that in the legislation. It's covered by the legislation on following distances, which is enforced by the Popos, but it's not the Road Code.

The Road Code is an attempt to translate the 10 million various bits of legislation into a form that can be understood by the motoring public. It's necessary and very useful, but it's not the law, and isn't enforcable.

If you want to see what the law says, don't go to the Road Code. Go to the legislation.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...%40rn_25_a&p=3

Right, rant settling down.

Navigate to the bits about passing, sections 2.6 to 2.11. They cover passing on the left, passing on the right, and passing stationary vehicles.

Ultimately, even if you think that what you are doing is legislatively okay, you have to do it in safety. This is a purely subjective judgement. Fair to say that when a motorway is blocked up and stationary, flying down the gap between lanes at 100 kmh (not exceeding the speed limit) is still a bad idea, and could be categorized as

Unsafe passing manoeuvre
(Infringement = $150)
Land Transport Act 1998, s.40 & Offences & Penalties Regs 1999, r4 & 2.6(1)(a) Road User Rule 2004
Maximum fine = $1,000, Maximum prison = 0, Minimum disqualification = 0, Notice type = N/T
Being a driver of a vehicle on a road did [1 pass] another vehicle moving in the same direction when the movement could not be
made with safety

I'm not sure where the 45km/h reference came from, I can't find it.

Please don't search for the Holy Grail answer to whether filtering or lane splitting is legal or not. The answer will always be that it depends entirely on the circumstances as they relate to the legislation. And then it becomes a dreadfully subjective judgement as to what is safe or not.

I'm in Christchurch, and we don't have a real motorway. I'm not sure how they enforce it up North in Orkers. What I can say is that most weeks we deal with moped, cyclists and motorcycle riders who have been filtering or lane splitting and who are about to win an ACC funded trip in an ambulance because they did. Yes, normally it is the fault of the numpty who changed lanes without indicating, or turned without checking. But the taxpayer finded trip in the ambo is still largely avoidable by the rider being a bit more defensive.

Ho hum, haven't posted in a while. Donuts.

[Swoop]

I'm not sure where the 45km/h reference came from, I can't find it.

Donuts.

I suspect that "someone" has made a personal judgement and is deciding to quote this number when dealing with 2-wheeled members of the public...

It's all about riding to the conditions. (What is it with BMW drivers though?)

[strandedinnz]

I (What is it with BMW drivers though?)

They are just taking up the slack due to the lack of Volvo drivers in this country.

[Akzle]

Dear God...

What I can say is that most weeks we deal with moped, cyclists and motorcycle riders who have been filtering or lane splitting and who are about to win an ACC funded trip in an ambulance because they did. Yes, normally it is the fault of the numpty who changed lanes without indicating, or turned without checking. But the taxpayer finded trip in the ambo is still largely avoidable by the rider being a bit more defensive.

ambos are largely user pays, no wait. entirely user pays. so too are firefolk,
...y'know the kinds of people that help people and stuff.

it's only cops that are fully government funded and do fuckall for the community/society/NZ peoples.
except take money and make them scared of he government.

[swbarnett]

... moped, cyclists and motorcycle riders who have been filtering or lane splitting and who are about to win an ACC funded trip in an ambulance because they did.

This is far too simplistic. Nobody gets in to strife just because they lane-split. They get in to strife because they push too far beyond their current skill set. No matter what they're doing.

[BoristheBiter]

[COLOR="wanker"]
ambos are largely user pays, no wait. entirely user pays. so too are firefolk,
...y'know the kinds of people that help people and stuff.

Can you show me where some one got charged for calling the fire brigade as there house was on fire?

[rastuscat]

it's only cops that are fully government funded and do fuckall for the community/society/NZ peoples.
except take money and make them scared of he government.

Come on Azkle, you can do better than that.

[Akzle]

Come on Azkle, you can do better than that.

am i obliged to? Doesnt your kind celebrate mediocrity?
At any rate. Cops are dicks until proven otherwise.
You... I rank at 70-80% dick.

[Juniper]

ambos are largely user pays, no wait. entirely user pays. so too are firefolk,
...y'know the kinds of people that help people and stuff.

And on that note.

Please all note that it is St. John week this week. We are only partially govt funded and really do rely on the support from our communities. A lot of our "staff" you see out there are actually volunteers. From ambos, caring caller, friends of the emergency, medical alarms, the Youth programme, caring pets, trainnings and being present at things like rugby games and concerts.

If you donate your money we thank you profusely, that extra ambulance could be the one that gets to you or someone you know.
If you donate your time it means the world to us. Even in Youth we are under staffed and under pressure to support our communities through our kids.

Please do let me know if your interested.

[leathel]

Can you show me where some one got charged for calling the fire brigade as there house was on fire?

you get one call out for rubbish fires when the ban is on the next is charges here, Our local brigade is only partly funded, they have to fund raise to up the gear they need.

I was told the same deal with Commercial buildings

People do get charged for scrub fires if they can find who started it