Filtering campaign launched

Australia’s motorcycling community has joined forces with road safety advocate Maurice Blackburn in an online-campaign to urge state and territory governments to give the green light to ‘lane filtering’ to ease traffic congestion.

In a video (see below), the practice of lane filtering – which is legal in many jurisdictions overseas -- is explained graphically so that the community understands its economic and safety benefits and potential to reduce road congestion.

Lane filtering is defined as motorcycles moving between lanes of slow or stationary traffic. It is a way of riding that eases congestion for everyone while improving safety for motorcyclists when compared to being stopped in traffic.

Shaun Lennard Chairman Australian Motorcycle Council said: "Filtering makes sense. Road authorities around the world are at last recognising the positive contribution of motorcycle and scooter use in relieving congestion. It’s time Australia adopted it, too.

"I've seen filtering in action across the world -- in Europe, Asia and South America. As well as relieving congestion, there are safety benefits for riders."

John Voyage, Maurice Blackburn principal and road safety advocate said it was encouraging that a number of state and territory governments were already looking at lane filtering.

“In releasing this video we hope that policy makers see how this is a simple and effective practice. There is strong evidence from Europe that shows that it’s six times more dangerous for riders stuck behind stationary vehicles than it is for those allowed to filter through queuing traffic.”

Sydney conducted a motorcycle filtering trial between March 1, 2013 and April 30, 2013, where each of the intersections involved was continuously monitored by CCTV cameras. The results of the trial are still to be released.