Filtering vs Overtaking
 

Was reading the insurance mess with regards to bikers filtering. At the moment teh Insurers use a case law taht is a gzillion years old and which presumes a 50% liability on each side. That made me wonder what is the difference between filtering and overtaking?

Overtaking should be on going around a vehicle in a different lane, in filtering you make you own lane? :)

But you could be on the other lane, ie right hand lane and there is oncoming traffic in that lane, filtering or overtaking?

I'd say Filtering is typically between two cars, in the same direction, whereas overtaking on roads other than motorways, is to the right of one car (width wise- length wise it could be a dozen), typically in the oncoming lane.

I think you've all missed the key point.

Overtaking - passing a vehicle or vehicles that are moving at a slower pace than you, and returning to a clear section of your lane.

Filtering - passing vehicles in queuing traffic (moving or stationary), using any space that is available, in order to progress.

How close together does the traffic have to be to constitute queuing? What if they're not queing for the same exit, set of traffic lights/whatever? What if it's just congestion on the motorway? At what speed can it be moving? Is the (admittedly rather dangerous) practice of alternately over and undertaking cars in the outside lane at 80mph (cars moving around 70) actually filtering at high speeds, or is it simply many seperate overtaking and undertaking manouevers, done in quick succession?

Traffic is queuing, when the speed of one vehicle, is limited by the vehicle infront of it, especially when several vehicles are involved.

Yes of course it's a bit of a grey area, but I think we all know when we're filtering or overtaking.

is Filtering ilegal or sumthing ?

What if someone is driving at the speed limit of 30 and therefore eveyone sles behind is also at 30, is that a queue of traffic or is it moving traffic.

For me filtering is when I am in between 2 lanes of traffic going in the same direction anything else is over taking/undertaking irrespective of what others are doing or what speed I do it at.

Absolutely not... it's a manouvre clearly described in the Highway Code, as one that car drivers should be very aware of.

However, it can often be seen as overtaking, and when a car pulls out infront of you knocking you off - because they didn't look; the motorcyclist can often end up with the blame.

Someone (LynW) has provided this argument on Filtering, and the responsibilities of drivers to look when they decide to change direction!

www.feelthecheese.com/Filtering.htm