WTK Is Lane Splitting Really Illegal???

[Slartibartfast]

For those of you that don't know, lane splitting is when a motorcycle drives between occupied lanes of traffic or when a motorcycle shares a lane with another vehicle (normally while overtaking said vehicle).

I hear people talk about the legality of lane splitting all the time but I have not come across anything that says lane splitting is illegal.

So far I have found out that it is ok for two motorcycles to share a lane (but not three unless that third motorcycle is only overtaking and the roadway is clear)

MOTOR VEHICLES AND ROAD TRAFFIC ACT
CHAPTER 48:50
" 77. (1) It shall not be lawful for more than two persons to
ride abreast on a road either upon motorcycles or upon bicycles
not propelled by mechanical power; but a person shall not be
convicted under this section in respect of the overtaking of two
persons so riding and in the absence of other traffic on the road
at the point of overtaking."
http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/48.50.pdf

Will post more as I come across it.

[Dizzy28]

This topic has been beaten out in many threads including this one
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=272768&hilit=lane+splitting&start=60

[Slartibartfast]

This topic has been beaten out in many threads including this one
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=272768&hilit=lane+splitting&start=60

This thread is just fellas beating up about bikers splitting lanes. I'm looking for the actual laws and regulations that speak about it.

[SMc]

Aren't most of our road laws based on the UK's? I dont thinks its illegal there and in most cases people give way to bikes coming up alongside them.

The law quoted sounds as though its ok for two people cycle/ride next to each other on a road and if there were third would it be a chargeable offence. If you are overtaking the two clowns then you would not be considered to be the third person and therefore it is not illegal...unfortunately this chapter does not apply to splitting lanes and looks to be geared towards single lane roads vs highways.

I support your right to go dong the middle as you not slowing me down or hampering my day in any way but I dont think you will find what you are looking for and even if you did -try explaining it to a nation that thinks it OK to drive on the shoulder or drive with no lights on at night cause its cool

[pete]

Enforcement at 0% means go through hard.

[Slartibartfast]

SMc I think you interpreted the clause correctly. That was exactly what I thought it meant. I can't find anything about a bike and a car sharing a lane though.

I will admit, I split lanes (sometimes faster than I should) and I'm not going to stop. However, I always make sure I'm not inconveniencing other drivers on the road. I even give drivers a lil wave or a beep if they let me pass. I'm thinking of slowing down though because I realise that some drivers are not comfortable with the speed at which I pass by their car.

I'm not concerned about what other people think because I already made my decision. I'm concerned mostly about what the law says for "hypothetical" insurance purposes. I'm wondering if a biker will automatically be wrong if he is between two lanes or if they will actually look at the circumstances of the accident.

[Team Loco]

Manufacturers spend millions on safety, airbags, seatbelts, hood strength, roll bars, crumple zones etc. And then........we have bikes. Just doesnt fit in. Its like buying death

[Slartibartfast]

Bikes that are constantly engineered to be smaller, lighter and faster. You H@ coming supercharged now. WTF.... I want to ride it tho

[Chimera]

Wish i had a dash camera

Yesterday morning this bikeman zipping between cars at well over 180km on highway

Before you even realize he there he done aside you, atleast 3 cars that were doing lane changes almost take him out. Honestly wudda deserve it if he died

[Slartibartfast]

Wish i had a dash camera

Yesterday morning this bikeman zipping between cars at well over 180km on highway

Before you even realize he there he done aside you, atleast 3 cars that were doing lane changes almost take him out. Honestly wudda deserve it if he died

Yes speeding should be punishable by death.

MOTOR VEHICLES AND ROAD TRAFFIC ACT
CHAPTER 48:50
"38 (4) When being overtaken by other vehicles he
shall drive as close to the side of the road as possible so as
to allow such other vehicles to pass, and in all cases he shall
drive so as to give as much space as possible for the passing
of other traffic and shall not speed abreast any vehicle when
such vehicle is overtaking him. "
http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/48.50.pdf

I just hope you don't break the law as well and try to make overtaking more difficult for the rider.

[DVSTT]

Enforcement at 0% means go through hard.

[Chimera]

The speed he was going, i hear him half a second before he pass me. But how homeboy was going from rightmost lane to leftmost lane nonstop.....he almost get take out from ppl changing lanes.

[Slartibartfast]

Yes if he crashed and got seriously injured it would have been his fault. But that doesn't mean he "deserved" to die. You sound like you vex he reached home to his family in one piece.

[Chimera]

Lol if he did reach to his family in one piece. I vex cuz of his muffler bearing riding. One woman had to pull away from him. Because of his sheit, she cudda get in a accident by pulling back into right lane halfway trying to merge to middle lane.

And yes if he die due to his riding, he deserve it.

[Slartibartfast]

Lol if he did reach to his family in one piece. I vex cuz of his muffler bearing riding.

Wow, what a little c@nt.

[Slartibartfast]

Anyway, back to the main issue, can anyone show me where the law states that lane splitting is illegal?

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

You could be legally right and end up dead though. Truth be told "no one" looks out for bikes on the centre lane.

[Chimera]

Dont get your panties in a bunch. Better he dead from his muffler bearing riding today than continue almost causing accidents on the highway by causing people to pull away from him.

[rollingstock]

Anyway, back to the main issue, can anyone show me where the law states that lane splitting is illegal?

The law recognises a motor bike as a vehicle as such it must adhere to all road laws. Road markings indicating lanes is a guide for vehicles to occupy a certain area of the road, due to a bike's size it is allowed for two to ride abreast each other but lane splitting or riding the white line is illegal and depending on the situation can be construed as improper overtaking, falling to keep in proper traffic lane or even dangerous driving.

[Slartibartfast]

According to the act

“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads and includes a trolley vehicle, but does not include vehicles constructed exclusively for use on rails or other specially prepared tracks;

I understand how a motorcycle may be interpreted as a motor vehicle. Can you show which clause(s) would be used to prove that lane splitting is illegal?

[zoom rader]

According to the act

“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads and includes a trolley vehicle, but does not include vehicles constructed exclusively for use on rails or other specially prepared tracks;

I understand how a motorcycle may be interpreted as a motor vehicle. Can you show which clause(s) would be used to prove that lane splitting is illegal?

Two bikes abreast is allowed however one car with one bike abreast is not allowed.

I stopped at a red traffic light abreast with a car withing the white line and got cautioned politely by a motorbike officer who was directing traffic.
One reason he gave was a safety reasons ( you can get hit from incoming traffic) and the other was that you are not allowed to cross the white line unless to overtake.

[Slartibartfast]

The thing is, lane splitting is a lot safer than standing in line. Quick google searches will show you why. Less chance of being rear ended at a traffic light is one scenario where it is safer.

Even the police have mixed views on it as I have gotten cautioned by some and rode through traffic with others. But did anyone ever state how you are legally wrong?

Let's say a car hit you while you were waiting at the traffic light there, would you tell the police and insurance that you were wrong?

You could be legally right and end up dead though. Truth be told "no one" looks out for bikes on the centre lane.

Yup. Same thing I tell everyone. Right or wrong, the biker always loses in an accident.

Anyway, special shout out and thanks to all the good drivers out there that use indicators and rear view mirrors. Bikemen have nobody to thank more than them. And those that pull aside to let us squeeze through a little easier.

ABA, if you scan your rear view mirrors every 3-5 seconds like you are supposed to, it will be impossible for a bikeman to sneak up on you cuz they normally have their front light on (my front light actually has no "off" setting). Also, if you look in your rear view mirror before changing lanes you would not end up pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle. These are basic driving techniques. Poor and unskilled drivers like you should not be allowed on our roads.

One thing I am against though is when a driver uses their indicator and the biker is able to let them change lanes, yet he tries to squeeze past them. That's just bad manners and bad riding, especially when the driver did everything correct. If anyone ever puts on their indicator in front of me and I am able I slow down so they can switch lanes. If I can I even "block" for them so they can switch lanes easier and safer.

[rollingstock]

Stop being a cornt on the people road, you sound like one of those idiotic riders.

[tr1ad]

Stop being a cornt on the people road, you sound like one of those idiotic riders.

is chue

[black start]

Stop being a cornt on the people road, you sound like one of those idiotic riders.

is chue

Oh goar

[uncle sam]

dem bikers does piss me off... and well popo does do what they want in this country

[Chimera]

Funny thing is that i always allow bikers to pass once i see them, even pulling as much right as possible in the right lane so they can safely pass next to me. I glad for them to go their way and not act foolish around me.You being a lil beyotch and defending the biker because hes a biker. Not considering that he endangering other people due to his riding. That rider must be take 5 seconds from grandbazaar to caroni river. Me eh mind the speed, is the weaving in and out of lanes. I glad if he crash n dead.

[Chimera]

Btw i didnt pull out on him, 3 cars in front of me almost taking out because he run up on them while they were already doing lane changes.

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

The thing is, lane splitting is a lot safer than standing in line. Quick google searches will show you why. Less chance of being rear ended at a traffic light is one scenario where it is safer.

Even the police have mixed views on it as I have gotten cautioned by some and rode through traffic with others. But did anyone ever state how you are legally wrong?

Let's say a car hit you while you were waiting at the traffic light there, would you tell the police and insurance that you were wrong?

You could be legally right and end up dead though. Truth be told "no one" looks out for bikes on the centre lane.

Yup. Same thing I tell everyone. Right or wrong, the biker always loses in an accident.

Anyway, special shout out and thanks to all the good drivers out there that use indicators and rear view mirrors. Bikemen have nobody to thank more than them. And those that pull aside to let us squeeze through a little easier.

ABA, if you scan your rear view mirrors every 3-5 seconds like you are supposed to, it will be impossible for a bikeman to sneak up on you cuz they normally have their front light on (my front light actually has no "off" setting). Also, if you look in your rear view mirror before changing lanes you would not end up pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle. These are basic driving techniques. Poor and unskilled drivers like you should not be allowed on our roads.

One thing I am against though is when a driver uses their indicator and the biker is able to let them change lanes, yet he tries to squeeze past them. That's just bad manners and bad riding, especially when the driver did everything correct. If anyone ever puts on their indicator in front of me and I am able I slow down so they can switch lanes. If I can I even "block" for them so they can switch lanes easier and safer.

I don't believe locally bikers are worse off staying behind vehicles as opposed to alongside. I also think if that is an issue it is still more safe than lane splitting in a country where persons do not expect lane splitting.

That 3-5 second thing is not certain to work even for cars once they traveling way above the speed limit. Worse yet for bikes that are so small that they may be unnoticed.

Do bikes have indicators? I have never seen a biker use one. Also when lane splitting how do I know where the biker wants to go?

[Slartibartfast]

Stop being a cornt on the people road, you sound like one of those idiotic riders.

is chue

Oh goar

I wouldn't lie. I do idiot thing on the road until I realise I inconveniencing people. Now I ride for everyone else. I will take my licks for that.