Victorian Government rejects proposal to allow riders to weave through stationary traffic

August 6th, 2014

A proposal to allow motorbike and scooter riders to weave through slow-moving or stationary traffic has been rejected by the Victorian Government.

The Opposition has promised to amend legislation allowing so-called "filtering" if it wins government in November's state election.

Labor's spokesman for roads Luke Donnellan said the move would be a "win-win for everybody".

"We think it's time for the Government to act, so we're jumping on the front foot and saying let's get moving," he said.

"This reduces congestion, increases safety for motorbike riders.

"They do it in New South Wales, they do it in many other places around the world, there's enough studies so... in our eyes it's ready to go."

A 2012 Road Safety Committee report recommended further research into the practice and said it could decrease traffic congestion.

It also said it could protect riders from same-direction accidents.

But it found filtering was a factor in three motorbike fatalities between 2000 and 2011.

State Transport Minister Terry Mulder said he could not endorse something that had led to deaths on the roads.

"Given the fact it's proven to have killed people in the past, I'm not sure how many seriously injured, I couldn't on the back of that recommend that practice," Mr Mulder said.