Keeping a sufficient distance when passing to the right side of a bicycle or an electric scooter
144A Keeping a sufficient distance when passing to the right side of a bicycle or an electric scooter
A driver of a motor vehicle driving past to the right side of a bicycle must pass the bicycle at a sufficient distance from the bicycle if the bicycle is travelling along a road in the same direction as the driver.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
Rule 144A(1A) inserted by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(2).
A driver of a motor vehicle driving past to the right side of an electric scooter must pass the electric scooter at a sufficient distance from the electric scooter if the electric scooter is travelling along a road in the same direction as the driver.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
Rule 144A(2) amended by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(3).
The driver may, if it is necessary in order to comply with subrule (1) or (1A), do any of the following while passing the bicycle or the electric scooter (as the case may be) but only if the driver can do so safely and has a clear view of any approaching traffic—
if the driver is driving on a two-way road without a dividing line or median strip—drive to the right of the centre of the road;
if the driver is driving on a road with a dividing line—drive to the right of the dividing line;
drive—
on a dividing strip that is at the same level as the road; or
on or over a single continuous line, or 2 parallel continuous lines (other than 2 continuous yellow lines parallel to tram tracks), along a side of or surrounding a painted island;
if the driver is driving on a multi-lane road—drive so that the driver's vehicle is not completely in a marked lane;
if the driver is driving on a road with 2 or more lines of traffic travelling in the same direction as the driver, but without marked lanes—drive so that the driver's vehicle is not completely in a single line of traffic;
if the driver is driving on a multi-lane road—move from one marked lane to another marked lane by crossing a continuous line separating the lanes;
drive in a tram lane.
Rule 144A(3) substituted by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(4).
For the purposes of this rule—
sufficient distance from the bicycle means—
if, at the time the driver passes the bicycle, the speed-limit applying for the length of road is not more than 60 kilometres per hour—a lateral distance of at least 1 metre between the driver's motor vehicle and the bicycle; or
if, at the time the driver passes the bicycle, the speed-limit applying for the length of road is more than 60 kilometres per hour—a lateral distance of at least 1·5 metres between the driver's motor vehicle and the bicycle; and
Rule 144A (3)(b) amended by S.R. No. 22/2023 rule 5(1).
sufficient distance from the electric scooter means if, at the time the driver passes the electric scooter, the speed-limit applying for the length of road is not more than 60 kilometres per hour—a lateral distance of at least 1 metre between the driver's motor vehicle and the electric scooter.
Note to rule 144A (3)(b) amended by S.R. No. 22/2023 rule 5(2).
Note
A rider of an electric scooter must not ride on a road on which the speed-limit is greater than 60 kilometres per hour—see rule 262D.
For the purposes of subrule (3), the lateral distance is measured between—
the outermost part of—
the left side of the driver's motor vehicle; or
the left side of any vehicle being towed by the driver's motor vehicle; or
if there is a projection from the driver's motor vehicle (whether or not attached to the motor vehicle), the left side of the projection; and
the outermost part of the following, whichever is the closest to the driver's motor vehicle, a vehicle being towed by the driver's motor vehicle or any projection from the driver's motor vehicle (as the case may be)—
Rule 144A (4)(b)(i) amended by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(5).
the right side of the bicycle or the electric scooter;
the right side of any bicycle trailer towed by the bicycle;
the right side of any rider or any passenger in or on a bicycle trailer towed by the bicycle.
Notes
Note 1 to rule 144A amended by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(6)(a).
1 Bicycle, dividing line, dividing strip, electric scooter, line of traffic, marked lane, median strip and multi-lane road are defined in the dictionary. Tram lane is defined in rule 155. Motor vehicle is defined in the Road Safety Act 1986.
Note 2 to rule 144A amended by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 51(6)(b).
2 A rider of a motor cycle riding past to the right side of a bicycle or an electric scooter is not permitted to engage in lane filtering if the rider is unable to comply with this rule—see rule 151B(1).
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