Justice and Community Safety Directorate ACT Lane Filtering Trial Updated: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:05:17 +1100 Printed: Wed, 11 Jan 2017 06:50:10 +1100 Revision: 11
What is lane filtering? Motorcycle lane filtering is when a motorcyclist moves past stationary or slow moving vehicles in the same lane. -
ACT trial of lane filtering The ACT lane filtering trial commenced on 1 February 2015 and will run for a period of two years.The trial area encompasses the whole of the ACT to ensure there is no confusion about the areas in which lane filtering will be permitted. For the purpose of the trial, lane filtering is: only allowed when safe to do so; not allowed at a speed greater than 30km/h; only allowed by fully licensed motorcyclists (ie. learner and provisional licensed motorcyclists are not allowed to lane filter); not allowed on the kerbside next to a footpath or in bicycle lanes or breakdown lanes; not allowed in school zones during school zone hours; and not allowed past heavy vehicles and buses. Motorcycle lane filtering is not the same as lane splitting. Lane splitting involves higher speeds (above 30km/h), which increases the unpredictability of motorcyclist movements for other road users. Lane splitting is not permitted as part of the trial.-
Evaluation of the trial The trial will be evaluated based on a before and after study of crashes and awareness of the rules relating
to lane filtering. As lane filtering and lane splitting is not specifically coded in crash data, the evaluation of the impact of the trial on crash rates will be based on data relating to same direction, lane change and side swipe manoeuvres which can indicate lane filtering and splitting. A pre and post trial survey will be used to evaluate awareness of the rules relating to lane filtering. Further information about the trial and its conditions can be found in the Questions and Answers document