Motorcycle Council of NSW Ph: 1300 679 622 (1300 NSW MCC) | enquiries@mccofnsw.org.au

Historical Data

Read Transport NSW’s Media Release

The Minister for Roads and Ports, the Honourable Duncan Gay announced in February 2014 that Lane Filtering for Motorcycles in NSW will be legalised as part of a package of changes to help ease road congestion and improve safety by reforming laws for motorcyclists

Lane filtering is the practice of motorcycles moving between stopped or slow-moving cars.

Benefits from lane filtering include reducing the risk of riders being caught up in a rear end collision. Rear enders are a common collision in NSW and can result in a rider being severely injured.

Drivers are reminded to watch both their mirrors and look for motor bikes filtering through the traffic and riders are advised to manage their risk.

Full details of the lane filtering implementation can be found at the Transport for NSW website.

Lane Filtering FAQ

What is motorcycle lane filtering?
Motorcycle lane filtering is when a motorcycle rider moves between stationary or slow moving vehicles...
Why change the law?
The motorcycle community has for some time sought to have lane filtering made legal, arguing that it: is...
How was the lane filtering trial developed?
On 18 October 2012, the Minister for Roads and Ports announced that there would be a trial of motorcycle...
What was the purpose of the trial?
The purpose of the trial was to investigate the impact of allowing motorcyclists to legally lane filter...
Were there any crashes during the trial?
There were no crashes in the trial zone during the two-month trial.
What did the trial find?
TfNSW has identified that: Despite being (at the time) illegal, lane filtering is often practised on...
What else has been done to evaluate lane filtering?
In addition to the lane filtering trial, TfNSW has: analysed motorcycle crash data to identify any crash...
What is being done in response?
The NSW Government reviewed the findings of the report, NSW crash analysis and the approach taken in...
What’s the difference between lane filtering and lane splitting under the new law?
Lane filtering will be where a motorcycle rider rides past stationary or slow moving vehicles travelling...
What conditions will apply to lane filtering?
To minimise safety risks, lane filtering is: • only allowed when safe to do so • not allowed at a speed...
Do the new lane filtering laws apply to bicycle riders?
The new motorcycle lane filtering laws do not apply to bicycle riders. Existing law continue to apply...