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Police seek riders in lane filtering incidents

Police seek riders in lane filtering incidents call charges

ACT police have asked for help to identify two riders who were videoed in separate incidents where a car swerved toward them while they were legally lane-filtering.

The incidents occurred on Majura Parkway on Tuesday, October 30. One incident is shown in this video which we published on November 2.

Police were made aware of this video a day later and began investigating.

Two incidents

It now appears there were two incidents involving the same driver.

This surely demonstrates that the first incident was not accidental. Instead, the driver seems intent on causing alarm and/or injury.

ACT Police have now released the images on this page (at top and below) of both incidents.

Police seek riders in lane filtering incidents
The rider in the second incident

They are seeking the identity of the two motorbike riders involved and have released this statement:

About 4:30pm, the riders were separately travelling northbound on Majura Parkway, Majura, when a green Ford Falcon swerved, almost colliding with the riders. At the time, the riders were lawfully lane filtering.

If you are one of the motorbike riders affected please contact ACT Policing on 131444. Please quote reference 6327970.

Police are also urging anyone who knows the motorbike riders or who witnessed or has dash-cam footage of this incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

Please quote reference 6327970. Information can be provided anonymously.

ACT Police have confirmed they will alert us on the outcome of their investigation into these incidents.

Legal filtering

Interestingly, these incidents occurred only a few weeks after the ACT made lane filtering legal.

Lane filtering is now legal in all states and territories (except NT and WA which is expected to follow shortly) and has been legal in NSW more than four years.

So there is no excuse for this driver’s ignorance of the laws as the ACT is inside the state of NSW.

Not only is lane filtering legal but it also benefits all motorists as it helps move heavy traffic more quickly.

What does it take for drivers to understand this?

You can do your bit to educate drivers by sharing this article you are reading now as well as this “Open letter to drivers“.

Perth incident

Meanwhile, in another road rage incident in Perth on Sunday, October 28, a driver swerved at a rider twice.

We posted YouTube video of the incidents, but it has since been removed.

However, it showed the driver trying to hit the rider at traffic lights, then a second time further down the road.

At the end of the video the driver gets out at traffic lights to have a go at the rider, but forgets to engage his handbrake! His car almost rolls into the car in front.

We contacted WA Police to make them aware of the video.

They said they would investigate and when we followed up yesterday they said they were still investigating.

Filtering rage

Drivers trying to obstruct riders has been happening ever since lane filtering was introduced.

Check out this video from last year sent to us by Newcastle rider Harry Criticos.

“I was filtering legally when a driver stuck his whole body out in an attempt to block me,” the 2016 Triple Black R 1200 GS rider told us.

“I did not stop and he did make contact with the bike. I hope it hurt.”

It might be worth telling your driver mates that this particular motorist not only got hit, but also copped a $325 fine and three demerit points.

Lane filtering is legal 

Surely it is time for some major advertising campaigns in each state to advise motorists that riders are allowed to filter and what benefits there are for ALL motorists.

That was the major finding of an online poll we conducted in 2016, yet there are still no major ad campaigns.

So far, lane filtering education campaigns have been minimal and mainly aimed at riders, not the general motoring public.

We not only need major ad campaigns, but also roadside signage such as this photoshopped sign.

lane filtering signs consensus duty defend filter
Here’s a sign we’d like to see!

We are not aware of any polls about lane filtering in Australia.

However, in California where lane splitting (filtering at higher speeds than 30km/h) is legal, polls have found it is vastly unpopular among other road users. The main objection is that it’s unfair!

That breeds hostility which results in stupid behaviour such as in the above video.

Lane filtering lane splitting America danger bosch filter
Lane splitting is unpopular in the USA

So long as lane filtering remains unpopular and/or erroneously believed to be illegal, motorists will do stupid and dangerous things to stop riders filtering.

Police ‘not interested’

Not only are authorities not interested in educating the motoring public about lane filtering, but police don’t seem to help, either.

Harry says police were initially not interested in following up on his complaint about this driver.Lane filter Incident

After we published the video, Harry went back to the police to find out why they did not charge this driver.

Eventually the driver was charged.
  1. Hopefully they find the riders, but that shouldnt be necesary, police should be able to inforce the law if a driver is doing something illegal, regardless of who is afected, if his present or even if nobody else was involved. A driver comiting an infraction or an attempt to hurt someone should be considered a crime and punishable by itself, what if his actions where not directed towards one person but generally to other motorists and riders, he should be stopped and charged. Its like if they find someone poisoning the water supply, they shouldn’t be searching for whoever drank the water (other then to check they’re ok) but inted prosecute him directly if the have evidence of him committing this crime.

  2. Lane filtering is NOT legal, it is restricted. Lane filtering is still ILLEGAL over 30kmph, on kerbs, in school zones, or where ever it is dangerous to do so.
    Dangerous driving/riding is covered by the negligent driving act.
    Not using your indicator when required is an offence punishable with 2 demerit points and a fine.
    You MUST stop behind the line at red lights, never over the pedestrian crossing. Running a red light is an offence punishable by 6 demerit points and a large fine.
    I’ve never seen a motorbike ever do a lane filtering correctly, even the cops get it wrong. Stupid law that should never of been passed as Australian roads are the narrowest roads in the world. The laws show how corrupt on government is and run by cashed up lobby groups.
    WATCH OUT FOR PEDESTRIANS AT ALL TIMES!
    Motorcycles are 30 times more likely to be involved in a fatality and 75% of fatalities the rider is at fault.

    1. You should go back to school and learn to write properly in English; also, you should stop making up “statistics” and making false assertions.

      1. Made up statistics, most MULTI VEHICLE accidents riders are NOT at fault… even if the stat were that high, majority would be track /slip single bike accidents that push the % up! FYI lane filtering is ALWAYS legal, as it is ONLY lane filtering when travelling below 30km/h in the right conditions. I believe the term you are looking for when passing other vehicles along the kerb or at higher speeds is LANE SPLITTING, which is illegal… at least learn the rules correctly!

  3. To “tough guy” maybe you should have a look in yer own backyard before sniping off at others-road rules vary from state to state in particular filtering laws,and in my experience i have seen more cars “undertake or overtake near side” in heavy traffic than i have seen bikes do it.maybe you need to get youself a camera,a big pink flashing light,a bullhorn and a power ranger style costume and wander the streets making it safe for the rest of us.go-go keyboard warrior.

  4. You do not need to indicate:

    151A Motorbike lane filtering
    (1) The following sections do not apply to a motorbike rider who is lane filtering:
    (a) section 46 (Giving left change of direction signal);
    (b) section 48 (Giving right change of direction signal);
    (c) section 141 (No overtaking etc to left of vehicle);
    (d) section 146 (Driving within single marked lane or line of traffic);
    (e) section 147 (Moving from 1 marked lane to another marked lane across continuous line separating lanes).

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