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Lane filtering passes first anniversary

Leave a gap lane filtering queue jumping

The introduction of lane filtering a year ago has reduced congestion on major roads and reduced the risk of injury to riders says the Motorcycle Council of NSW.

Vice chairman Christopher Burns says in a press release that NSW led the way in July 2014 by introducing lane filtering which has since been followed by Queensland, a trial in the ACT, and impending introduction in Victoria and the American states of Washington, Texas, Oregon and Tennessee.

“Despite initial concerns raised when Lane Filtering was first introduced the sky did not fall in,” he says.

“Lane filtering has proven safety benefits, removing riders from the high risk zone of the most common collision in Australia, the rear ender, and thereby reduces the likelihood of injury to riders.

“The fact that so many other Australian states are introducing this measure, as well as overseas jurisdictions, clearly shows there is merit in this initiative, reducing congestion on major roads and reducing the risk of injury to riders.”

Unfortunately, the laws vary from state to state, causing some confusion among riders.

READ THE NSW RULES HERE

ACT TRIAL RULES ARE HERE

QLD FILTERING RULES

He thanked the NSW Government for introducing this “common sense scheme”.

“Lane filtering shows that NSW is once again a leader in road safety initiatives,” he says in the statement.

The gushing press release seems designed to butter-up the government and encourage it to further implement motorcycle-friendly laws.

“Encouraging the use of motorcycles and scooters in Central Business Districts also relieves parking issues for local councils as five motorcycles will fit in the space of a single car,” Chris says.

  1. Mark,
    I note with interest your comments in relation to helmets, cameras on helmets and tinted visors.
    As you are probably not aware I am on the NSW Helmet Working group, amongst others, and have been for a number of years. In fact it was my initial conversations with Deputy Director General of Transport Mr Tim Reardon and General Manager of Centre for Road Safety Ms Margaret Prendergast along with Mr Keith Simmons formerly of CRS, that got this issue on the table for discussion in 2012. This can be verified by Mr Guy Stanford with whom I have been working very closely on these matters for a number of years and by Mr Wayne Carruthers. Over the past couple of years I have in fact raised these issues with Assist Commissioner John Hartley and Superintendent Phillip Brooks both in the course of the Motorcycle Safety Strategy Meetings as well as informally. As a result of this work CRS commissioned Crashlab to test the effects of cameras on helmets and what the impacts might be, quite literally.
    As you are aware there is progress being made in this area. Yes progress is slow is slow but progress is being made.
    yesterday I appeared as a witness before the Regional and Rural Senate Committee into aspects of road safety, a committee comprised of eight federal Senators, and I spoke at length on helmet issues and ways to correct the current raft of poorly aligned legislation in this area.
    Whilst the first birthday celebration was underway I was also able to have a discussion with Parliamentary john Sidoti, Superintendent Phillip Brooks and Acting GM Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlon on a range of matters including helmets.
    Should like copies of any correspondence to verify these claims I will be happy to oblige, in the meantime you can call guy and get the low down on what I have actually been up to.
    best regards,
    Christopher James Burns
    Vice-Chairman MCC of NSW

    1. Hi Chris,
      I’m well aware of the situation regarding helmets and other laws.
      You may not be aware that I have covered all these issues and more.
      Perhaps you should subscribe to my weekly newsletter or spend a bit of time going through the various stories on my website, starting with the stories suggested at the bottom of the artice.
      Cheers,
      mark

    2. Thank you for the update, Chris. Constructive efforts to move motorcycling issues forward should be commended, not criticised, especially when greater momentum is required by decision-makers like bureaucrats & politicians.

  2. I think you oversimplify both the issues mentioned in your article. Pushing through the lane filtering legislation was no easy task, and the MCC lobbied hard to have this put into place.

    They are also working on changing helmet laws, as you’d know if you’d read any of the newsletters put out by the MCC, or the information posted in their website.

    I’d suggest doing some research before posting snarky throwaway comments in articles like this. I am not affiliated with the MCC in any way, but the current successes with motorcycle initiatives and growing support from the government are not something to be trivialised.

    1. Hi Caitlin,
      You should perhaps read the vast number of stories on my website which have covered all the issues you mentioned.
      It’s difficult to recap on every issue in each article.
      Please spend a little bit of time and read through some of them, at least those mentioned at the bottom of the article for further reading.
      Cheers,
      mark

  3. I think we all know the issue with helmet cams is all about capturing bad police behaviour
    on camera and nothing about road safety
    If police had to wear cameras at all times, and the footage of their dealings with the
    public open to scrutiny ,helmet cams would be unecessary
    And it may change the unprofessional intimidatory and even violent culture among
    a small number of police.. CCTV cameras have been proven to work against both criminals
    and police in public areas often showing evidence contrary to police accounts of incidents

  4. Mark,

    Love the articles, informative and thorough. Wish people would read through all of them (and the updates) before lashing out. But all in all great job. Just goes to show nothing gets done without lobbying unless they can make money from it then they’ll push it through no questions asked.

    1. Sigh … me too!
      Thanks for reading right through. I try to keep them as short as possible but sometimes the issue requires more than a quick-attention-span scan!
      Cheers,
      Mark

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