What is it with motorbikes? Latest thing round here is bikes cutting down middle of A roads with hazards on! Who do they think they are? Rant over

The hazards are on because theyre a hazard to all and sundry in the vacinity, hazards allow you to basically ignore all the laws and do just what you want, they allow folk to park on zebra crossings and double yellow lines to go to the chip shop and the like, theyre an amazing invention

They have more to fear from you than you them, the fact you've seen them proves the point!

But filter safely folks, and pay attention to what may be in your blind spot...

 2009 FL2

Bikes have always filtered and always will.
But since so many cars are now sporting DRLs they can no longer count on headlights to get other road users to notice them, hence the hazards.
Simples.

Does this mean we will soon be driving around in cars with DRLs on and hazard lights flashing too then??
How about a beacon on the roof?

To be seen or not it's still illegal !

If more drivers used their eyes and paid more attention, it wouldn't be necessary. Steve

2008 TD4 HSE Auto, Zermatt Silver

Filtering is entirely legal in the UK!

As has been said above it's to make sure they're seen. It obviously works so they'll continue to do it.

As an ADVANCED MOTORCYCLIST I can assure you filtering is legal, and safe to do so at an appropriate speed. Any extra help we can give ourselves to be seen by blind and ignorant car drivers the better ! Extra visibility means less risk of a clueless non-advanced car driver doing something stupid like changing lanes without observation or planning.

I LOVE my freelander and feel very safe in it but ALWAYS look out and care for motorcyclists and the vulnerable road users.

It may be legal but it's b****** dangerous. Putting hazards on is a sensible precaution, but not an alternative to cautious speed moderation.

Last edited by IDL on 15th Nov 2015 8:32 am. Edited 1 time in total

It is dangerous so that why us "Bikers" need all the visibility we can get.

I fully understand the reasons for warning lights, but the thing to remember is that peoples brains get
trained to warning light on both motor and push bikes and high vis jackets etc. The trouble is, that is
what the brain looks for, not the bike or person. You come up to a junction look for a light or high vis,
don't see one and proceed. So, if you are not using lights or high vis, be prepared that cars may pull out
in front of you. You also need to look out and not just go blindly through assuming you have been seen.

Yes exactly why I said appropriate speed. 10-15 mph is more than enough for me!!!

I have been knocked off motor bikes twice in the last 30 years, on both occasions the car was at fault. one did a U turn from the inside lane, I was in the outside lane the second time the car behind me was going to run a Red light that I had stopped for

The company I worked for put all drivers through various courses, one of which was a Cyclist awareness course to allow them to experience riding on busy roads. They also invited various cycling groups to experience the PCV/LGV drivers perspective.

All who attended spoke highly of the training.

Having driven/ridden M/C's, LGV's, PCV's for many years I firmly believe that our driving test system is floored in that there is not enough emphasis on other types of vehicle driver and giving consideration to them when driving.

As a Motorcyclist for 40 years now I'll be the first to agree there some real idiots out there but that applies to all road user groups..


Ian.