Lane splitting do's and don'ts for bikers
Lane splitting in South Africa exists in a bit of a grey area, according to the RTA (Road Traffic Act). It is not expressly allowed or disallowed; the traffic police leave it up to the discretion of the motorcyclist. Yes, bikes will lane split on the freeway and in slow-moving traffic, but the riders should be prudent when performing the act.
Related: Is lane-splitting legal?
According to the RTA Article 298:
- Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (2) and (4) and regulation 296, the driver of a vehicle intending to pass any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction on a public road shall pass to the right thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive on the left side of the roadway until safely clear of the vehicle so passed
- Provided that, in the circumstances as aforesaid, passing on the left of such vehicle shall be permissible if the person driving the passing vehicle can do so with safety to himself or herself and other traffic or property which is or may be on such road
So the legalese here is that, yes, it's legal, but the how and when are not specifically covered, leaving the aforementioned grey area open to interpretation by riders and drivers. If you are smart and follow a few simple dos and don'ts, you can enjoy blipping through traffic and getting to your destination in one piece.
Lane filtering for bikers in SA - What you need to know
What to do
- Take care
- Keep your distance
- Plan ahead
- Wear bright colours
- Watch out for trucks and large SUVs with big blind spots
If you choose to lane split, be smart about it. Take care and watch your space; wear your brightly coloured bike gear. If approaching an intersection, move toward the centre lane between vehicles to avoid being struck from behind. Due to the large blind spots, you are invisible to trucks and large SUVs.
What not to do
- Don't Speed
- Don't be disrespecting
- Don't split between slow lanes
- Don't lose focus
- Don't squeeze in if there is no space
If you are lane-splitting, Don't speed! Do not go more than 20km/h faster than the traffic around you. Stick to the far right lanes and keep your focus on the cars and driver behaviour around you. Also, remember that if you can't fit, you shouldn't try pushing your way through.
