If you think Australian road rules and lane filtering rules vary substantially between states, how about the USA where the only two states with lane splitting have completely different rules!
California has now been joined by Utah which has recently legalised lane splitting, while several more states are considering lane-splitting rules.
Lane splitting
It’s called lane splitting in the USA and lane filtering in Australia.
While lane filtering is slow movement between lanes of traffic, lane splitting is usually performed at higher speeds as in California.
However, the new Utah rules are actually lane filtering as it is only permitted in stationary traffic on a road posted at no higher than 45mph (72km/h) and at a maximum speed of 15mph (24km/h).
That’s even more restrictive than Australia where traffic does not have to be stopped and the maximum speed is 30km/h.
The most liberal rules are in California where it is allowed when traffic is travelling under 30mph (48km/h) and riders must travel no faster than 10mph (16km/h) more than surrounding traffic.
Some are considering allowing riders to use the road shoulder only and not between lanes of traffic, while others have varied maximum speeds for riders and surrounding traffic.
In Texas, where you can ride without a helmet under certain conditions, they are considering making it mandatory when splitting lanes.
Is it any wonder riders become confused and inadvertently break some of these arcane rules when travelling from state to state?
So if someone tells you it is legal to lane filter or lane split in their state or country, find out the rules first or you could run foul of the law.
A campaign to highlight road rules to motorists ignores motorcycles at a time when the fatality rate is high and motorcycle awareness is vital, says the Motorcycle Council of NSW.
Chairman Steve Pearce says it is a dangerous oversight in the annual Road Rules Awareness Week (April 8-14, 2019).
“How do we encourage awareness and discussion around the motorcycle rider road toll?” he asks.
“I would like to see published analysis of the current fatality rate, so we can maybe draw some lessons from what has happened to others.
“I know the analysis is available, it just needs to be publicised.”
Road Rules Awareness Week is part of the Towards Zero campaign by the Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety which has featured videos such as above.
Community Education Officer Cassady Southern confirms that they “don’t have any motorcycle specific material going out over the road rules week”.
The campaign will also feature press releases; Facebook posts, promotions in Service Centres and train stations and “stakeholder communication kits”.
But they will include no motorcycle-specific information.
However, Cassady points out that they post about motorcycling “regularly” on their Facebook page.
“A recent motorcycle lane filtering quiz on our Facebook page performed really well,” Cassady says.
However, it was a pretty simple quiz and didn’t reveal much at all.
Road Safety Quiz: Is this fully licensed motorcyclist in the picture lane filtering legally?a) Nob) Yesc) Yes, under certain circumstancesPost your answer in the comments below.
“Is this a good allocation of funds into saving riders lives?” he asks.
Steve says riders need to “take back the agenda” on motorcycle safety.
He also suggests riders “focus on correcting habits and building awareness of not only the environment we ride in, but also our own skills and limitations”.
“Sure, there are always SMIDSY incidents, as we are hard to see, especially if drivers are not looking.
“Let’s work to understand the controllable factors first, then look at the road rules.”
Steve Pearce
Our view
The Transport for NSW road rules campaign that ignores riders has missed a great opportunity to make motorists aware that lane filtering is legal.
They say the campaign gives “NSW road users the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the road rules, including new or commonly misunderstood rules”.
So why not lane filtering?
It is also misses an opportunity to alert interstate riders of the differences in rules compared with other states at a vital time when riders from other states will be visiting NSW during the Easter holidays.
Double demerit points will also apply during the Easter holidays from April 18-22.
Victorian Motorcycle Council chairman Peter Baulch says the extra patrols were to be expected given the high rider toll.
NSW deaths
The three NSW deaths over the weekend were:
Just after 4.30pm on Sunday (24 March 2019), emergency services were called to the Great Western Highway at Meadow Flat, following reports a motorcyclist had come off his bike. Officers from Chifley Police District attended and found the 59-year-old man had died at the scene.
About 8.30am on Saturday, a motorcycle and a utility collided on Putty Road, Howells Valley, about 50km south of Singleton. The motorcycle rider, a 44-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was flown to John Hunter Hospital, where he later died. The driver of the utility, a 58-year-old man, was uninjured. He was taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests.
Just before 7.30pm on Friday, emergency services were called to the New England Highway near Whittingham, after a motorcycle and two cars collided. Officers from Hunter Valley Police District rendered assistance. The 50-year-old rider died at the scene.
Our condolences to their families and friends.
Steve Pearce in action
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce says he is “always saddened” to hear of rider deaths.
“I think we all consider the effect on families and friends, and also the emergency services who have to attend the accident scene,” he says.
“A day out enjoying an activity which gives us so much joy can quickly change for the worse.”
Dangerous riding
NSW Police say they prosecuted several riders over the weekend for traffic dangerous offences:
About 12:20pm on Sunday, Highway Patrol motorcycle officers observed a motorcycle travelling towards them on the incorrect side of the road, while overtaking another vehicle across double yellow lines. The rider was issued an infringement notice for ‘not keep left of the dividing line’, fined $337, and lost three points.
About 3.35pm on Sunday, Hunter Valley Highway Patrol were carrying out “stationary speed enforcement” on the New England Highway at Lower Belford when they detected a motorcycle travelling at 169km/h in a 100km/h zone. Police activated lights and sirens and directed the rider to stop. A 25-year-old Dubbo man has been issued a traffic infringement notice for speeding by more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended.
About 11:20am on Saturday, at Carrathool, officers detected a rider at 160km/h in a 110km/h zone while overtaking another vehicle. The 19-year-old provisional licence-holder was arrested for a blood/urine analysis and issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit over 45km/h. He was fined $2345, his licence was suspended for six months and his registration for three months.
Rider stopped by NSW Police for speeding
Vulnerable riders
NSW Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the state’s Traffic & Highway Patrol Command said there had been 18 rider deaths so far this year. That’s six more than at the same time last year.
“Drivers and riders alike need to make sure that they are doing the right thing and sharing our roads safely,” he says.
“Highway Patrol officers will continue out in force to prevent further harm to NSW road users; however, we need the help of the public to stem the current rise in fatalities.”
Steve provided these statistics that show motorcyclists are vulnerable road users:
17% of motorcycle fatalities involve alcohol levels over the legal limit;
Excessive speed is attributed to 54% of motorcycle fatalities; and
8% of motorcycle fatalities involve fatigue.
He says the highest number of motorcycle fatalities are in the age group under 30 while fatalities in the 50-59 age group tripled over the past 10 years. Males are the majority of fatalities (96%) and 17% of motorcyclists killed do not hold a valid Licence.
“These statistics don’t mean we should stay home,” Steve says.
“We just need to understand the risks we face as motorcyclists, and apply some basic risk strategies before we ride out.”
NSW Motorcycle Council rider advice
Ride to conditions: More than any other road user, motorcyclists are vulnerable to road conditions. If it doesn’t feel safe to continue, then stop and wait until conditions improve. You are the best judge. Toughing it out generally is an indicator of subjecting yourself to additional risk.
Risk assessment: The best road riders are risk managers. Take your own risk assessment before you go out for a ride. How much experience have I had with the type of riding I am about to start? Am I totally comfortable on the motorcycle I am riding? How fit am I? is the motorcycle well serviced and ready to go? If you have any doubts about your ability, readiness or fitness, its probably a good idea to stay home and polish the beast! There will be plenty of other opportunities to ride.
Training and experience: There are plenty of rider training schools offering skills development and refresher courses. If you can’t get to a course, spend some time on the Rider Risk video series on YouTube for riding and survival tips.
Rest every couple of hours: Plan your ride. On your way there will be some great places to stop and rest, and enjoy the local hospitality and scenery. Taking a regular break will keep you fresh and alert.
Don’t drink and ride: This is one of the easiest strategies we can implement to survive.
Speeding: It’s not the speed that is the problem, it’s what happens when a speeding rider has to cope with either changing road conditions or the random act of another motorist. Trees, guardrails, other moving objects, slippery road markings, gravel and potholes are not your friends when you come off a speeding motorcycle. Leave it for the racetrack.
Wear the best gear available: Research indicates that wearing the best protective gear available leads to a much better chance of survival. Why? Comfort and protection. If in doubt, refer to the testing results on the MotoCAP website and the MCCNSW Helmet videos.
MotoCAP, the world’s first safety and comfort ratings system for motorcycle clothing, uses a secretive system for buying and selecting gear for testing to guarantee integrity.
Deakin Uni Institute for Frontier Materials Senior Research Fellow Chris Hurren says they have so far not been supplied with any test products by any manufacturer.
“At this point the scheme is totally funded by Australian State Governments, some of the auto clubs and insurers and the NZ ACC,” he says.
“All garments are purchased from retail and online without the manufacturers knowledge or involvement.”
Secretive buying system
MotoCAP testing equipment at the Deakin Uni Geelong campus
Their sourcing system is quite secretive with one of the two garments used for testing bought in stores in Australia and New Zealand.
“We never buy more than one garment type at a time so a typical buying run may consist of one leather jacket, one textile jacket and a pair of denim jeans,” Chris says.
“Another buying run may be a textile jacket, a pair of textile pants and a pair of gloves. The person doing the in store purchase is a rider and they try on the garments like a normal buyer so almost impossible to detect.
“We then use the same covert purchasing system for an online purchase of a second garment generally of a different size and/or colour if available.
“The delivery address is changed regularly and never to the University.
“This is all done to ensure that manufacturers can not trick up the garments to get a higher score. The only time industry knows that they have been sourced for testing is when the results are displayed on the website.”
Manufacturer involvement
However, manufacturers have been invited to submit rider gear for testing and rating.
“There are two methods for manufacturers to organise for their product to be tested but neither of these have been utilised yet as the program is still in its infancy,” Chris says.
“A manufacturer can pay for a garment to be purchased using the above method and added to the testing program.
“A manufacturer may also get their product tested before it enters the stores by providing a number of boxes (50+ garments depending on the product and size of company) of their manufactured product in a warehouse where it is randomly sampled for three garments.
“Two of these garments will be tested and the third held to be compared with retail stock when it arrives in store. If what turns up in store is different to what was tested then their rating will be rescinded and they will be prosecuted by the ACCC for false advertising.
More ratings
MotoCAP textile jacket ratings
So far, MotoCAP has tested 18 textile and leather jackets, 18 pairs of jeans and leggings and eight pair of gloves.
The last ratings posted were for textile pants about five weeks ago.
In the next few weeks MotoCAP will post ratings for seven pairs of leather pants and an additional posting of gloves, textile jackets and textile pants.
That means they will have every product class covered: gloves, leather jackets, leather pants, textile jackets, textile pants, ladies leggings and denim jeans.
Chris says they will have more than 150 products on the website by June 30.
“We have purposely targeted only 10% of the market in the first year so that manufacturers have a chance to come along with the scheme,” he says.
“We do not want to put a manufacturer out of business as we want them to improve their products and think about protection and thermal comfort in their design.”
“If they follow this path like car manufacturers did for ANCAP then the rider will always be the winner.
This spate of hit-run incidents raises the prospect that motorists are viewing riders not as vulnerable road users, but as “temporary Australians” with a death wish.
It could be a direct result of the recent bad press about the high rate of motorcycle fatalities in the state, currently at 20.
Sadly there have been no arrests so far in any of these four hit-run incidents.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Brunswick hit-run
In the Brunswick incident, a woman driving an unregistered dark green Ford Falcon station wagon callously sped away from the scene.
The incident occurred at 3.30pm on yesterday (19 March 2019) at the corner of Sydney Rd and Cozens St.
The 31-year-old Mickelham man was treated at paramedics at the scene, before being taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with minor injuries.
He was later released from hospital.
No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing.
In CCT video, the driver turns across in front of the rider, hitting the bike, then stopping momentarily before driving off.
The driver stops and looks at the injured rider before driving off
The female driver is described as Caucasian in appearance, wearing purple sunglasses, with a medium build and aged in her mid-20s.
St Kilda West hit-run
A KTM rider has suffered serious injuries in a hit-run incident in St Kilda West on Monday night.
Police have been told the rider was travelling south-east along Park Street about 6pm.
A white sedan was parked on Park St near the intersection of Mary St when the car pulled out of the parking spot and hit the motorcycle.
The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and the white sedan fled the scene, west along Park Street.
The male rider, a 20-year-old Hampton man, received serious leg injuries and was taken to hospital.
St Kilda police are investigating and are keen to speak to any witnesses or anyone in the area at the time with dash-cam footage.
Do you believe this spate of hit-run crashes is due to a lack of driver concern for motorcyclists? Leave your comments below.
Suzuki Motorcycles have developed a radar reflector, not to detect or jam a police speed radar, but to make motorcycles easier for hi-tech cars to detect them.
In fact, the radar reflector could make motorcycles easier for police to detect with radar guns!
Suzuki have filed a patent in Japan for the radar reflector.
There is no word yet from Suzuki about whether they will make or fit the reflectors to their motorcycles.
The reflectors would react with various automotive collision avoidance systems such as blind spot alert, as well as the coming wave of autonomous vehicles.
Drawing from Suzuki’s patent application
Radar reflector
The Suzuki patent might help address the valid concern that autonomous vehicles and various collision avoidance systems have difficulty detecting vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
While cyclists and pedestrians may not be able to carry radar reflectors, they could easily be included on a motorcycle.
But it’s yet another piece of technology that creates extra expense and puts the emphasis on motorists trusting technology rather than their own crash-avoidance skills.
Hopes of a trial of forward stop lines or motorcycle boxes for the safety of filtering riders have been set back after the Australian Road Research Board rejected the idea.
However, that has suffered a step back with the Victorian-based ARRB ruling out two options for trials in its “Preview of Motorcycle Boxes” which has not yet been released to the public.
This is despite calls from rider groups for trials which have been backed by the Victorian Police and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.
The ARRB draft report commissioned for Melbourne Council and VicRoads says rear-end crashes are “insignificant” and did not warrant the forward stop lines trial.
It says “only” 7% of motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries are rear-end crashes and 13% are caused by lane changes.
Those figures may be insignificant to the ARRB but would seem pretty significant to most riders!
Rubbery figures
The figures have also been disputed as “rubbery” by the Motorcycle Riders Association of Victoria.
The MRA Victoria point out that the ARRB did not consult motorcycle and scooter representatives, but only talked to bicycle and pedestrian groups.
Spokesman Damien Codognotto says the ARRB study was “set up to find in the negative” and has called for costs of the study.
The ARRB is a commercial research centre that receives partial government funding.
A spokesman confirms they have recommended against “a plan for coloured on-road boxes at central Melbourne intersections reserved for motorcycles”.
A City of Melbourne spokesperson says the ARRB report has been sent to all members of the Motorcycles in Melbourne committee and will be discussed at the upcoming meeting in April.
The draft report also claims that VicRoads spent $30m on motorcycle safety, but it is believed most of this was paid out of the Motorcycle Safety Levy funds.
Some of this expenditure included $500,000 to update the motorcycle booklet and $750,000 for changing registration to permit LAMS motorcycles.
MotoCAP, the world’s first safety and comfort ratings system for motorcycle clothing, is important but may be too complex and not comprehensive enough, says a British motorcycle manufacturer.
The Australian ratings system for motorcycle pants, jackets and gloves launched in September 2018.
Since then, MotoCAP has copped some criticism for “faulty comfort ratings” and for only targeting 10% of rider gear for testing and rating per year.
However, many Australian rider representatives have supported the service for reminding riders about the importance of having quality safety gear.
MotoCAP is important
Steve Franklin, major shareholder of Manchester-based Merlin motorcycle clothing company, agrees that MotoCAP is important and should not be underestimated.
Merlin’s Steve Franklin with their flanno leisure gear
He says he misjudged the importance of the British the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) which is a similar system to MotoCAP, but for helmets only.
Steve says he has concerns that the MotoCAP the rating and testing regime is too complex for consumers to understand.
“It needs to be more simple. Customers want proper and simple advice,” he told us while in Australia recently to meet retailers and distributors Link International.
“There is nothing wrong with trying to improve road safety.”
However, he says the complex MotoCAP rating system could give consumers the wrong impression.
“If we give consumers the wrong info, we lose their confidence,” he says.
Council president Paul Bullock confirms the Tasmanian Road Safety Advisory Council discussed the TMC’s policy proposal.
Proposal rejected
“RSAC did not endorse the proposal,” he says.
“Discussions identified that it might be timely to develop a campaign about all road users sharing the roads.
“RSAC referred this to the Education and Enforcement Sub Committee (EESC) for consideration within its priorities.
“Identification has been passed on to a sub committee of the RSAC ‘for consideration within its priorities’, so it will be a low priority.
“But I will be following and asking what is happening at every RSAC meeting you can be assured of that.”
The rejected TMC call for cyclist ID is based on cyclists disobeying road rules and not being fined.
Paul says it follows “many complaints” from motorcyclists, car drivers, bus drivers and truck drivers about cyclists who behave irresponsibly.
Identification not registration
The rejected TMC proposal did NOT suggest cyclists pay registration fees.
“Cyclists don’t understand it is for identification, not registration. It is to stop cyclists breaking the law. At no cost to the cyclist,” Paul told us when the TMC made the suggestion in January.
The TMC wanted cyclists over 18 to wear some form of reflective identification number on their bike, clothing or helmet. Paul says it could be funded through the road safety levy.
Tasmanian road sign
Rule breakers
What seems to irk many motorists is that cyclists get political favour, their own lanes, free footpath parking and yet avoid traffic offences.
However, cyclists are not avoiding traffic fines altogether.
In the past two years, Queensland Police alone have booked more than 230 cyclists for speeding and 540 for running red lights.
The TMC also provided this list of traffic offences in Tasmania by cyclists:
Offence
Legislation
Fine
Code
Item
Penalty
Unit
Cyclist unreasonably obstructing the path of other driver/pedestrian
RR
125(1)
$81.50
B819
174
0.5
Cyclist ride without due care and attention
RR
367(1)
$122.25
BC11
441
0.75
Cycle without reasonable consideration for other road users
RR
367(2)
$81.50
BC12
442
0.5
Cyclist unreasonably obstructing the path of other driver/pedestrian
RR
125(1)
$81.50
B819
174
0.5
Cyclist not seated astride and facing forward
RR
245(a)
$81.50
BA97
330
0.5
Cyclist riding with no hands on handlebars
RR
245(b)
$81.50
BA97
330
0.5
Cyclist seated other than on seat
RR
245(c)
$81.50
BA98
331
0.5
Cyclist fail to ride in bicycle lane
RR
247(1)
$122.25
BB01
335
0.75
Cyclist cause traffic hazard (moving into path of driver/pedestrian
RR
253
$122.25
BB22
345
0.75
Ride bicycle with no warning device in working order
RR
258(b)
$81.50
BB38
356
0.5
“While the majority of cyclists obey the law there is an element within the cycling fraternity that continually do not,” Paul says.
“They obstruct vehicles travelling on the road; while travelling in a group doing far less speed compared to other vehicles, they will not move into single file to allow vehicles to pass.
“Cyclists use the excuse that they are entitled to ride two abreast on the road, while failing to accept that they are unreasonably obstructing traffic, which is illegal.
“Despite it being legal for cyclists to travel two abreast and laws allowing other vehicle to cross double lines to pass when safe to do so, irresponsible and discourteous rider behaviour puts cyclists and other road users at risk.”
With identification numbers, more traffic offences could be issued, more than paying for the cost to implement the program, Paul says.
Petitions against cyclist rules
Last year, a Change.org petition was started by Drivers For Registration of Cyclists for cyclists to ride single file.
It has so far received more than 136,000 signatures.
“The two main reasons are a reduction in tear volume and meibomian gland dysfunction which is where the glands of the eyelids produced a reduced quantity or poorer quality of oil,” she says.
“The oil from these glands is what keeps the tears stable on the eye and stops evaporation of the tear film.
“I have seen patients with dry and inflamed eyes from wind. It typically resolves quickly with treatment such as lubricating eyes drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops in severe cases.”
Contact lenses can exacerbate dry eye, while pregnancy and menopause can lead to a lack of tears.
Eye disease
Emma says wind-burned dry eyes are also at increased risk of infection and disease.
“Wind affects the tear film of the eye which is important for maintaining the integrity of the ocular surface” she says.
“It can make a person more susceptible to eye issues such as conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion or corneal ulcer.”
Vision advice
Emma advises riders to wear eyewear both as protection from wind and foreign bodies.
“A routine to maintain a stable tear film can also help such as lubricating eye drops before and after riding.”
It has also been suggested eating a diet low in vitamin A, which is found in liver, carrots and broccoli, or low in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils.
As they say, if symptoms persist, see your doctor or optometrist.
