I often think what I'd have to say if stopped when I do the same, as my reasoning would be that I am "employing correct lane discipline as laid out in the Highway Code" although thankfully haven't had cause to use that excuse as yet. As far as I see it, there's no such thing as undertaking unless the lane you're moving back into is a right-turning or filter lane.
Filtering is legal, but the thing to remember is that being in the right doesn't stop you being hurt/killed. As for a Police Officer not knowing the law, well it wouldn't be the first time would it. Headlights on main beam piss me off though, and those GS riders with more touratech type lights than blackpool tower that almost melt your eyeballs.
I filter when I feel safe to do so and usually only when the traffic is at a dead stop or trickling, but I try and do it with the mindset that the next vehicle I overtake is likely to be the one that tries to kill me. I also try and give the drivers I overtake more benefit of the doubt than I might otherwise, simply because I've been on the other side of the coin. Been sat in a queue of traffic and had a bike blow past my right ear without me noticing he was coming. It makes you jump. Because of this I'm happy to believe that in a lot of cases we really aren't noticed and before you flame me for suggesting that not all motorists are out to kill us, just how frequently do we check our offside door mirrors when we're stationary in our cars on single carriage roads, no matter what the good driver guide tells us. For a long time I thought the 'loud pipes save lives' chant was a mere justification for anti social silencers but I've come to think differently in this context.
I tend to use my hazard lights but also drop a cog so they static traffic can hear me! Plus I love the noise my akro makes But don't use main beam though!
Riding around with 'main' beam permanently on is so feckin DULL! It pisses other bikers off never mind other road users. Filtering? Switch on your 'hazards'. Oh, and undertaking? What puzzles me is that if I'm on a dual-carriage-way or three-lane M-way and the off-side or (in the case of a 3-lane M-way) off-side/overtaking lane(s) comes to a standstill but the near-side/fast lane is still moving, am I not guilty of undertaking? I mean does the law require us all to stop until the lane on our right starts moving again even tho our own lane may be clear as far as the eye can see?
How can it be illegal when there is no act and section? As I have said, the specific offence of nearside undertake was removed from the statute books with the introduction of the 1972 Road Traffic Act, and one of the reasons for this was because of stationary traffic forming in lanes 2 and 3 when lane 1 was empty or still free flowing (By the way there is no such thing as a fast lane ) The only option available is to report for careless driving, but the simple act of the nearside overtake is insufficient on its own, it would require the driver or rider to weave or swerve from lane to lane. Oh and on the subject of using hazards, again without wishing to be a killjoy, remember that there is also the offence of improper use of hazard warning lights, and I have known a few get done for it by some jobsworths, and although it may be a bit pedantic, it is an absolute offence.
"By the way there is no such thing as a fast lane." Correct! But the average 'Joe' calls 'em 'Slow', 'Middle' and 'Fast' Good luck with trying to change that mate. Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what constitutes a hazard with reference as to exactly when the use of hazard warning lights can be legally used?
And part of the problem with lane discipline is because people still think of slow, fast and overtaking lanes, despite the fact that the HC makes no reference to slow fast or overtaking, it has never been called the slow fast or overtaking lanes, and the average Joe is just a lazy thick sh1t who thinks they are being clever by referring to the slow fast and overtaking lanes rather than be bothered to sit down and actually read the Highway Code, mainly because they think that once they have passed their test they know it all and there is nothing more that they can be taught As far as improper use of the hazards? I will dig out the exact definition and legislation. But what I can say is that officially they can only be used when a vehicle is stationary, except in the case of buses who if displaying hazard lights whilst moving is an indication that the driver is in immediate need of Police assistance.
Here ya go; Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed. Law RVLR reg 27
I wasn't even filtering yesterday when a couple (lady driving) almost swiped the front end of my bike pulling into the left hand lane I was travelling in on a dual carriageway. And when I questioned her about what she had done at the lights she seemed to think because she hadn't seen me her actions were totally justified??? I was following a car in traffic at approx 30mph so no filtering or speeding occurring at all and I still was almost roadkill....
re: filtering with hazards on - legalities aside it sounds like an accident waiting to happen if a driver pulling out only sees one of your indicators and presumes you're just swapping lanes yourself rather than filtering. An accident on the M11/M25 junction on Fri night meant filtering through stopped traffic, and I was following another biker filtering between lanes 2 and 3 when a truck driver in lane 2 opened his door and stepped down right onto the carriageway in front of the lead biker. At the same spot a braindead numpty car passenger was just hanging around between a couple of cars, stretching his legs! They weren't particularly fussed about having a few bikers bear down on them but a deafening clutch-slip throttle-blip as I rode past may make them think about possible filterers the next time they do something as stupid.
