Filtering and the law

.

[Balky001]

interesting in light of a paper article today saying 2 out of 5 car drivers thought filtering by motorcycles was illegal and many bikers were also confused to when and how they can filter. I say hard and fast

Originally Posted by Balky001

I say hard and fast

And preferably on one wheel .

Nice post Lee, I'd like to incorporate some of that on the main site.


.

I disagree with some of the comments made there, say that we are liable to be held accountable. As I have been reading on a solicitors site and they seem to have a different opinion.

http://www.whitedalton.co.uk/overtaking.htm

After all if your filtering and someone wipes you out, even if they had a indicator on. It does not give them the right of way, it is merely a indication of the intended change of direction. Its up to them to ensure they have safe passage and do not hider other road users progress. As it is the same for us when we filter.

[Balky001]

Originally Posted by Grinch

I disagree with some of the comments made there, say that we are liable to be held accountable. As I have been reading on a solicitors site and they seem to have a different opinion.

http://www.whitedalton.co.uk/overtaking.htm

After all if your filtering and someone wipes you out, even if they had a indicator on. It does not give them the right of way, it is merely a indication of the intended change of direction. Its up to them to ensure they have safe passage and do not hider other road users progress. As it is the same for us when we filter.

Just read the article - now I'm confused who's in the right!

Originally Posted by Grinch

I disagree with some of the comments made there, say that we are liable to be held accountable. As I have been reading on a solicitors site and they seem to have a different opinion.

http://www.whitedalton.co.uk/overtaking.htm

After all if your filtering and someone wipes you out, even if they had a indicator on. It does not give them the right of way, it is merely a indication of the intended change of direction. Its up to them to ensure they have safe passage and do not hider other road users progress. As it is the same for us when we filter.

The main article is from a guy who is ex traffic police and now an accident solicitor....

Hi Lee,

Cheers for your article.

At least for me, it clears up a grey area. I recently saw a tv programme about some guy on a bike was fined for filtering in between traffic at normal speed. It wasn't evident at the time but the traffic cop said he was weaving. Since then I've been fairly wary about filtering.

So thanks for the read.

Cheers
T0mm0

White Dalton are specialists in defending motorcyclists and I would expect no more from them; they're bloody good too. Unfortunately they are not the decision makers when it comes to such cases, merely key influencers. The public at large generally believe that filtering is unlawful.

Personally when I filter on a motorway I tend to make sure the driver knows I am there by sitting on their shoulder for a few seconds before attempting to pass. Filtering while two vehicles are next to each other is definately he safest option, as neither vehicle has anywhere to go anyway.

The only recommendations I would ever make for filtering are:

• Think about it before you do it
  1) Do you need to do it ?
  2) Is it safe to do it ?
  3) Are the drivers of the other vehicles aware you are there ?
  4) If you have to ask yourself "can I make it?" you probably can't !

Keep it safe people, and good posting Lee......

.

For those that get themselves into such a position, here's what happened to me (FYI):

I have just been through a year long battle with a guy who did just what the article says: I was filtering on the outside of slow moving traffic, he turned into a drive way without indication (although he says otherwise), and I did not have enough time to stop - fist full of brakes, front wheel locks up, and I'm on the floor.

They immediately offered 50:50, and I have been trying to fight for 75:25. However I have finally given up, it's gone on for far to long and I can't be bothered with it anymore - so 50:50 it is.

Originally Posted by Monkey

For those that get themselves into such a position, here's what happened to me (FYI):

I have just been through a year long battle with a guy who did just what the article says: I was filtering on the outside of slow moving traffic, he turned into a drive way without indication (although he says otherwise), and I did not have enough time to stop - fist full of brakes, front wheel locks up, and I'm on the floor.

They immediately offered 50:50, and I have been trying to fight for 75:25. However I have finally given up, it's gone on for far to long and I can't be bothered with it anymore - so 50:50 it is.

Have you spoken to White and Dalton, they sound like good people and should be able to help.