Motorcycle road rules

Motorcycle riders, including moped and motortrike riders, must follow the same road rules as other vehicles on Queensland roads. Most of the rules that apply to drivers also apply to motorcycle riders, for example, the give way rules, traffic light rules and speed limits. But there are some rules that specifically apply to motorcycle riders, including rules relating to: lane filtering

riding on road shoulders

motorcycle control

pillion passengers

motorcycle helmets

bicycle storage areas. Lane filtering rules Lane filtering is when you ride your motorcycle at low speed between stationary or slow moving vehicles travelling in the same direction you are. The 2 lines or lanes of traffic must both be travelling in the same direction. If one of the lines or lanes is a dedicated turning lane (left or right) you must not lane filter using this lane. You're only allowed to lane filter in Queensland if you hold an open licence for the motorcycle you are riding and: your speed when filtering is 30km/h or less

it's safe to do so. You're not allowed to lane filter: at a speed more than 30km/h

in school zones during school zone hours

if you're a learner or provisional licence holder

when a 'no filtering' sign applies to the length of road

if it isn't safe. A motorcycle rider is not allowed to use a bicycle lane to lane filter. To ensure pedestrian safety, lane filtering is only allowed between stationary or slow moving vehicles, not between a vehicle and the kerb. Any vehicle, including a motorcycle, may overtake to the left of a stationary vehicle. Read more about overtaking to the left. To see these rules in action, view our lane filtering video.

View transcript Lane filtering in Queensland Lane filtering is when a motorcycle rider moves between stationary or slow-moving vehicles, that are moving in the same direction as the rider. Lane filtering at over 30km/h is illegal, and it's important that you only lane filter when it's safe to do so. There needs to be enough space between you and other vehicles to avoid a crash and to let you safely merge back into the traffic stream. You shouldn't lane filter near trucks or buses because large vehicles often find it hard to see you. When you're lane filtering, always look out for vulnerable road users like pedestrian and cyclists. It is illegal to lane filter in school zones during school zone hours. It's also illegal to lane filter if you're a learner or provisional motorcycle rider. Lane filtering can be a complex manoeuvre requiring plenty of on-road experience to be done safely, so only fully licensed riders are allowed to lane filter. There are heavy penalties for riders who don't follow the lane filtering rules. So make sure you're familiar with all the do's and don'ts detailed on the website. Authorised by the Queensland Government, Brisbane.

Rules for riding on road shoulders

If you hold an open licence for the motorcycle you are riding, you can ride on road shoulders and in emergency stopping lanes on major roads—such as highways, freeways and motorways past stationary or slow-moving traffic if:

the speed limit is 90km/h or more

your speed is 30km/h or less

you give way to bicycle riders or other motorcycle riders already using the shoulder

you are not riding on any unsealed parts of the road

there are no roadworks

you are not in a tunnel

it is safe to do so.

Road shoulders are the sealed area to the left or right of a road's edge line.

If a variable speed control sign has been used to reduce the speed limit of a road normally 90km/h, you are permitted to edge filter.

To see these rules in action, view our riding on road shoulders video.

View transcript Riding on the road shoulder in Queensland. When the traffic on a road with a speed limit of 90km/h or more, such as a motorway, freeway or highway, has slowed or stopped, fully licensed motorcycle riders can, in certain conditions, move onto the shoulder of the road or into emergency stopping lanes. A road shoulder is the sealed area of road to the right or left of an edge line. Only ride on a road shoulder when it's safe to do so. You need to have enough space to avoid a crash with other vehicles and to let you safely merge back into the traffic stream. It's illegal to ride on a road shoulder at speeds over 30km/h. This could be dangerous for you and other road users. You need to have plenty of on-road experience to ride on a road shoulder safely, so only fully licensed riders can ride on road shoulders. No L or P platers allowed. It's also illegal to ride on a road shoulder on roads where the speed limit is less than 90km/h. There are heavy penalties for riders who don't follow these rules. So make sure you're familiar with all the do's and dont's detailed on the website. Authorised by the Queensland Government, Brisbane.

Motorcycle control rules

You must stay in control of your motorcycle at all times. You must sit with 1 leg on either side of your seat at all times when riding a motorcycle, but you can lift your leg from the footrests or raise yourself from the seat if you need to while riding.

Pillion passenger rules

A motorcycle passenger that sits behind the rider is called a pillion passenger.

You must only carry a passenger on a motorcycle if you:

hold an R provisional or open licence

hold an RE provisional or open licence and have held that licence for at least 1 year, and are riding an RE motorcycle.

A passenger on a motorcycle can be a pillion passenger, or a person in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.

You must not carry pillion passengers, including your supervisor, at any time, if you hold an:

RE learner licence

RE provisional or open licence, but are riding a class R motorcycle in order to learn to ride that class of vehicle.

If you are learning to ride a motorcycle, your supervisor may be seated in a sidecar, if the motorcycle has one, or on another motorcycle, in a car or in another vehicle.

You must also not carry a pillion passenger for the first year of holding an RE provisional or open licence.

Rules for carrying passengers on any motorcycle

All of your passengers must wear an approved motorcycle helmet securely fastened.

Pillion passengers must be at least 8 years old and their feet must be able to reach the passenger footrests while seated.

You must not carry more passengers on the motorcycle or in the motorcycle's sidecar than the vehicle was designed to carry.

Your passenger must be seated safely on the pillion seat or in the sidecar.

Your pillion passenger must not ride on the motorcycle unless the motorcycle has a suitable pillion seat and suitable passenger footrests.

Your pillion passenger must face forwards and sit with a leg on either side of the seat, but is allowed to move a leg off the footrests to stretch or raise themselves from the seat.

Your passenger must not interfere with your control of the motorcycle.

These rules also apply for the carrying of passengers on quad bikes and utility off-road vehicles.

Motorcycle helmets

All Queensland motorcycle, quad bike riders and passengers must wear a helmet that complies with:

Australian standards AS1698 or AS/NZS1698, or

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe standard (UN ECE 22.05).

Unless exempt, the driver and passengers of utility off-road vehicles being operated on a Queensland road or road-related area must also wear a motorcycle helmet which complies with the standards.

Helmet labels and stickers

Helmets must display either a stitched label on the inside of the helmet or a sticker on the outside of the helmet, indicating compliance with the approved standards.

For a helmet meeting the UN ECE 22.05 standard, the label or sticker may contain any number from 1 upwards. An example is shown in the following images.

An example of an Australian standards conformance mark is shown below.

Attaching a camera

There is no law that prohibits the attachment of a camera to a motorcycle helmet, as long as the helmet remains compliant with the above mentioned standards, and is an approved attachment (according to the helmet manufacturer).

You may use a camera mounted on your motorcycle or a body mounted camera as an alternative.

Bicycle storage areas

Bicycle storage areas located at traffic lights allow bicycle riders to wait in front of vehicles stopped at the intersection. They are often painted green with a white bicycle symbol.

Motorcycle riders are allowed to enter bicycle storage areas as long as they give way to any vehicle that is already in the area or that is entering the area on a green or yellow traffic light or arrow.



An example of an intersection with bicycle storage areas is shown below.

Penalties

If you break a motorcycle road rule, you may be fined and/or receive demerit points.