" Head of the queue " Law !

New South Wales is preparing legislation to implement a law change that will enrage many motorists.  From July 1 it will become legal for motorcycle riders to thread their way through cars stalled in traffic jams or waiting for a light change - and do that at a speed of thirty kilometres per hour.

This is known as " lane filtering " and at present it is illegal.  The government claims to have undertaken safety tests and believes that it can safely improve traffic flow.    That ignores the frustration many car drivers will feel to find motorcyclists bunching at the head of the queue rather than the traffic stream moving as a unit.

This law change will implement a hazard for pedestrians who often use stalled traffic as a safe way to cross the street.  Threading their way between stopped cars will expose them to motorcycles they do not expect to find and at thirty kilometres per hour, that impact could deliver serious injury - or even death.

The practice opens up a host of reasons for exchanges between motorists and cyclists.   The gap between cars is often very narrow and a bike trying to squeeze through runs the risk of dislodging wing mirrors or inflicting scratches on paintwork.   Road rage is an ever present hazard on our crowded roads and allowing " lane filtering " seems a sure way to send temper outbursts upscale !

The biggest danger of this new law is the inevitability of raising the conflict level between cars and bikes. The government has spent a lot of money using advertising to coax bikers into wearing reflective clothes and to remind motorists of the vulnerability of two wheeled transport in the road mix.   The vast majority of bike riders obey the same rules as car drivers - and peace reigns.

Nothing is more likely to destroy that unanimity than bikes roaring through the traffic - and in the eyes of motorists - jumping the queue.   It will be resented by many, and some will deliberately position their vehicle to make it impossible to pass.

This is a law change that will deliver few benefits - and will most likely increase the accident rate between cars and bikes !