Copied directly from the National Transport Commission
(Road Transport Legislation — Australian Road Rules)
Amendment Regulations 2005(80) After rule 151
insert in Division 4
151A Riding a motor bike alongside a vehicle
The rider of a motor bike must not ride in a marked lane past
the left or right of a vehicle (except another motor bike or a
bicycle) that is travelling, or is stationary but not parked, in the
marked lane.
Offence provision.
Note Bicycle, marked lane and motor bike are defined in the dictionary.
The following text is copied directly from the Australian Road Rules Amendment Package 2005 Draft Regulatory Impact Statement
4.34 Riding a motor bike alongside a vehicle - New rule 151A
It is a common practice for motor bike riders to “split lanes”, that is, overtake or pass another motor vehicle (except a motor bike) in the same lane as the other motor vehicle.
Although rules 140 to 145 specifically deal with the many attributes of overtaking, none make the rider of a motor bike move into an adjacent lane to overtake another motor vehicle. This has resulted in a cult belief that splitting lanes (an inherently dangerous practice) is recognised as acceptable behaviour of motor bike riders. It is intended to impose the same behaviour on motor bike riders as is already the case with
other motor vehicles during the process of overtaking, that is, move into an adjacent lane or line of traffic and pass at a safe distance. If it is safe, a motorbike may pass another motorbike in the same lane.
The proposed amendment is structured to bring about this behaviour change.
Impact: The proposed amendment is expected to impact on the current behaviour of motor bike riders, in that they will not be able to overtake by splitting lanes, but will have to move into an adjacent lane to overtake. Although delay times for motor bike riders are expected to be minimal, some opposition can be expected from the motor bike fraternity,
as it involves a change of behaviour. Nevertheless, the proposed amendment is expected to gain the support of the general motoring community and remove the crash risk to motor bike riders engaging in the practice.
Costs: The costs imposed by this amendment are those that accompany the making of amendments, education of motor bike riders and advice to enforcement agencies. It is
expected that the latter cost will be absorbed in existing processes that provide contemporaneous legislative review. Additional costs may also be seen in minimal time delays and prosecution costs for riders breaching the new rule. However, it is not possible to quantify a monetary value, as it is not possible to estimate how many motor bike riders currently split lanes, and how many will continue to do so after the introduction of the new rule.
Benefit: The benefits are to achieve a cohesive set of rules that reflect community needs and expectations, which will assist in reducing road trauma. Furthermore, a general
reduction in crash risk is expected which will benefit not only the rider, but also his/her family and drivers directly involved when passed, at a very close distance, by a motor bike.
