Bikers fear new 'keep left' rule

Motorcyclists fear a revamped Road Code which came into force last night will penalise them for keeping themselves prominent and safe on streets and highways.

The Megarider Organisation, a motorcycle safety body, believes a new ability of police to log 20 demerit points against the licences of road users who fail to keep as far left as practicable will make two-wheel transport more perilous.

Failing to keep left has always been an offence punishable by an infringement fee or fine, but it is now among 32 driving misdemeanours carrying demerit points, double the previous number.

Motorists who attract 100 or more demerit points within two years face having their licences suspended for three months.

But Megarider spokesman Allan Kirk said yesterday that motorcyclists needed to be visible to stay alive, and that meant asserting their place on the road rather than hugging the left.

"Riding to the far left of the lane places the highly vulnerable motorcyclist closer to danger from the left, at risk of disaster in a gust of wind and at the mercy of bad car drivers who will push past in his lane." He believed many police had no idea of the problems motorcyclists faced.

Superintendent John Kelly, national road policing operations manager, said the introduction of demerit points for what had always been an offence was aimed at motorists who held up traffic unreasonably or took dangerous shortcuts by crossing centrelines on winding roads.

"It is not aimed at people driving in a reasonable position to keep themselves safe."

Mr Kelly said he believed very few motorists would fall foul of changes to the Road Code. Police would concentrate in early weeks on education rather than handing out penalties.