Is Filtering On a Motorcycle Legal in the UK?

Although some people believe not, the short answer is yes, you can filter on a motorcycle in the UK but, as always, there are guidelines in place to keep you and other road users safe.

Let’s have a look in more detail. 

So, what is filtering?

Filtering is moving between lanes of slow or stationary traffic but extreme caution is needed with emphasis being on riding at low speeds, having constant observation for hazards such as pedestrians and other vehicles emerging, and visibility.

Rule 88 of the Highway Code states it’s about being reasonable, not aggressive with a key focus on avoiding dangerous situations like filtering too fast or past junctions where drivers are turning. 

There is some key guidance given under Rule 88, namely:

• Observation: Look behind and to the sides, use mirrors, and watch for pedestrians crossing between vehicles or cars emerging from junctions.
• Positioning: Position yourself so drivers can see you in their mirrors.
• Speed: Keep your speed low and adjust it to the surrounding traffic; don’t travel significantly faster than the flow.
• Awareness: Be aware of other road users, including cyclists, who may also be filtering.
• Manoeuvre: Use the “Observation, Signal, Manoeuvre” (OSM) principle. 

When to Filter

• Slow or Stationary Traffic: Filtering is intended for congested periods where traffic is barely moving or stopped.
• It’s not for fast-moving traffic on motorways and can be considered dangerous riding.

What is reasonable?

Well, there’s a question. What is reasonable depends on an array of things such as speed, road conditions and flow of traffic. You need to use your judgement when filtering, there is no fixed speed limit. You should be altering your speed constantly depending on what the situation is.

If you are involved in an accident, it would be up to you to prove you were riding reasonably to avoid partial blame and one of the things that would be taken into consideration would be how you were riding, for example, were you being aggressive or dangerous? Were you riding too close to other vehicles?

Deciding when/if to filter

Personally I do not enjoy filtering, and I normally only do this when absolutely necessary and I usually pop my main beam on to, hopefully, ensure that I am seen.

On a hot day (I know, I know – we don’t get many of these in the UK!) you’re overheating in all your gear, the bike’s overheating, it makes sense to filter.

I personally would not filter above 40 mph and I always keep my speed at no more than 10-15 mph more than the traffic I am filtering through. I would always first assess whether it is safe, taking into account what is around me and all conditions. When the flow of traffic speeds up and is above 40 mph, I would slot back into the flow of the traffic.

Filtering on the motorway

I see some bikers filtering a lot faster than I would do, especially when on a motorway but perhaps I like to err on the side of caution more, if I am late then I am late, I am not taking unnecessary risks.

Also when filtering on a motorway, I filter in the middle of the two outside lines. If I can see the traffic slowing up ahead I will move over to one of the two outside lanes and then filter if and when it becomes necessary.

I personally think traffic would expect to see bikes filtering in between the outside two lanes. I have seen bikes filtering on the inside lanes and I do not think it is safe to do so, as it would not be expected that a biker would do this and the traffic is less prepared for you to do this.

If I am filtering and I see another biker coming up behind me filtering as well (now you can call me a woose here and I would not disagree with you!) but I move over and let the biker pass and then pull back out and follow this biker filtering. It is way easier if he clears the way for me but you do still need to keep your wits about you as of course, traffic may expect to see one biker but not two or three!

I drive a car too so I know it is extremely frustrating when you are sat in a traffic jam, there is not much you can do except be patient. When I see biker filtering (and I know this is probably because I am a biker too) I move over to give them as much room as I can to allow them to get past safely and then I think ‘I wish I were on my bike too, so I don’t have to sit here!”

Filtering near junctions

If I am filtering in a line of traffic (non motorway) and I can see a junction up ahead, I will stop filtering before I reach the junction and slot into the traffic as I have found from experience that people tend to change lanes last minute the nearer you are to the front of the queue.

You should also be mindful to slow right down and stop filtering near junctions where traffic is likely to be turning right. Chances are they are not looking in their mirror so will not see you coming and just make the turn.

Also be mindful of entrances/exits, side roads etc. You will often find traffic pushing their way out into the traffic and the likelihood of them actually being able to see you is pretty low.

I personally don’t like to filter at night as your headlight cannot be seen as easily as in the daytime as the other traffic have their lights on too and I feel that you would blend in too much.

I wish the fact that filtering is legal could be reiterated to other road users. I have lost count of the number of times when I have been filtering and a vehicle has deliberately moved over to close the gap between themselves and the next line of traffic or swerved over when alongside them.

As you can see filtering is perfectly legal with some limited guidelines but much of the “reasonable” element is down to personal interpretation. The above is my interpretation and rules I impose on myself but, just remember if the worst should happen, the question asked will be ‘Were you behaving reasonably and in line with the highway code?’

BK

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