Questions about lane splitting

[spudchucka]

They don't have too specify it as there are enough individual infringements to deal with it - illegal lane change, failing to indicate, following to close, reckless driving.

Good informative post by you in this thread Wikid. I just have one point to make re the above; Reckless Driving is the most serious of the driving offences and in no way should be bundled together with lane change, following distance and failing to indicate infringements.

35.Contravention of section 7, or section 22 where no injury or death involved—

(1)A person commits an offence if the person—

(a)Operates a motor vehicle recklessly on a road; or

(b)Drives or causes a motor vehicle to be driven on a road at a speed or in a manner which, having regard to all the circumstances, is or might be dangerous to the public or to a person; or

(c)Without reasonable excuse, contravenes section 22 by failing to stop and ascertain whether any person has been injured, after an accident where no other person has been injured or killed.

(2)If a person is convicted of an offence against subsection (1),—

(a)The maximum penalty is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding $4,500; and

(b)The court must order the person to be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence for 6 months or more.

(3)The imposition of a mandatory disqualification under this section is subject to section 81.

3 months prison / $4500 fine and mandatory 6 months or more disqualification is a tad more serious than a $150 infringement notice.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Back to the original question, if you don't lane split why bother riding bike?

That thing called fun....

[vifferman]

Strange though that most Akl drivers like to be slightly further to the right of their lanes, and leave a big gap on the left. Perhaps they just dont know where the edges of their cars are...

I think you're right there, PT.
I've done more 'undertaking' than overtaking in slow-moving/stalled traffic for this very reason, and because the cop who pulled me over (see my previous post) told me to. I asked him specifically about lane-splitting/filtering, and he said that while not legally allowed (essentially somewhat of a grey area in practice, despite Wkid's posting that seem to clearly indicate otherwise), the best option was to go past on the gutter side, and I wouldn't be ticketed, BUT if I had an accident while doing so, I would be. (Of course, he might have had no idea what he was talking about, but rather than admit he was talking out of the wrong hole, just made some stuff up...)
It will be interesting to see what comes of this (i.e., whether specific laws about filtering/lane-splitting are drafted), but I hope that common sense and recognition that safety is the bottom line prevail.

[wkid_one]

Good informative post by you in this thread Wikid. I just have one point to make re the above; Reckless Driving is the most serious of the driving offences and in no way should be bundled together with lane change, following distance and failing to indicate infringements.



3 months prison / $4500 fine and mandatory 6 months or more disqualification is a tad more serious than a $150 infringement notice.

Yeah sorry - I got a little carried away there in the interests of making my point.
I never remember which of the two is more serious - dangerous or reckless

However: despite the legalities - it is still up to the cop to pull you over. I have passed cop cars lane splitting on more than one occasion - the odd time being caugh out by a mufti car in slow moving traffic and have never been nicked. Maybe it is because I wasn't doing it like an idiot - maybe they couldn't be arsed.

All I am doing is conveying the law - it is up to the officer to determine if that applies to the situation.

[scumdog]

That thing called fun....

YEAH, 'cos down here we don't got no lanes to split nohow!!

[wkid_one]

YEAH, 'cos down here we don't got no lanes to split nohow!!

Fuck - down there - two cars at a set of lights is a traffic jam!

[scumdog]

Yeah sorry - I got a little carried away there in the interests of making my point.
I never remember which of the two is more serious - dangerous or reckless

However: despite the legalities - it is still up to the cop to pull you over. I have passed cop cars lane splitting on more than one occasion - the odd time being caugh out by a mufti car in slow moving traffic and have never been nicked. Maybe it is because I wasn't doing it like an idiot - maybe they couldn't be arsed.

All I am doing is conveying the law - it is up to the officer to determine if that applies to the situation.

Just remember, reckless is dangerous with intent, that should help you to figure which is more serious

[scumdog]

Fuck - down there - two cars at a set of lights is a traffic jam!

Whadya mean "set of lights"? - we don't done got none of them devils devices at any intersections 'round here neither.

A 90 second wait at a stop sign is a big delay in these here parts!

[jrandom]

Just remember, reckless is dangerous with intent

How, precisely, does that work?

Is "ooops!" the general defence to a charge of reckless driving, then?

I suppose 'reckless' would be invoked in cases of intentional ramming of idiots in Starlets who cut you off when you happen to be driving a Landcruiser with bull bars, etc. Not that I know of that ever happening.

[wkid_one]

Just remember, reckless is dangerous with intent, that should help you to figure which is more serious

Ahhhhh, so reckless is dangerous with Mens Rea that......I see. Thanks for that

[spudchucka]

Ahhhhh, so reckless is dangerous with Mens Rea that......I see. Thanks for that

You got it, knowing the likely consequences of the dangerous driving they "recklessly" or "intentionally" carry on driving like a f**kwit.

[Lou Girardin]

Wkid, I was referring to your statement that you may not pass at all if you cross the yellow lines. Traffic Regs; Reg 8, Section 6 - No driver shall pass or attempt to pass a vehicle, other than a bicycle, MOVING in the same direction, unless they do so without crossing the yellow lines.
If this were not the case, a parked vehicle could become a very effective road block if one couldn't pass it without crossing the yellow lines.
Sometimes the law does have a logic to it.

[sAsLEX]

off topic, but isnt it about time wikd changed his sig???

[wkid_one]

Yeah - I need to do a new one with CBR - thanks for pointing that out.

Mind you - I will always love my R1

[MadDuck]

You can only pass on the left when:

there are two or more lanes on your side of the centre line, and you are able to pass safely by using the left-hand lane (ie not occupy the same lane!)

you are directed to by a police officer

the vehicle you are passing:

has stopped, or

is signalling a right turn, or

is turning right

At all other times you must pass on the right.

PS - you are also not allowed to use the flush median to pass either!

Some more for you
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS 1976
PART 2 - DRIVING RULES
5. Driving in lanes—
(2)No driver shall drive, either wholly or partly, in any lane that is not available to him
(ie - you can't occupy a lane with another vehicle)

Passing on the right is considered just that - passing! Provided you either don't cross the yellow line, or pass safely on a white - this is passing - not lane splitting.

OMG Wikid thats Whangaparaoa Road!!! If I didnt overtake on the crossed lines not only would I have one damn sore hand but it would take 30 minutes to travel 3kms. I have never been ticketed but on the odd occassion have been given a rather sour look by our local coppers. They tend to be stuck just as much as the other cagers you see.

My understanding from Bronz is that the double yellow means - NO OVERTAKING whatsoever. Thats what they teach at their courses anyways.