Answer grounded in published legislation
Your question
Is lane splitting legal?
The supplied regulations do not expressly prohibit a single motorcycle from passing between lanes of traffic. However, motorcycles must travel in single file, except while overtaking another motorcycle, and each marked traffic lane is regarded as a separate public road for that rule. Two or more motorcycles may not overtake another vehicle at the same time. 1
Lane splitting may nevertheless be unlawful in particular circumstances. A rider may not change into or across a marked lane unless this can be done without obstructing or endangering other traffic, and must keep all motorcycle wheels on the road surface. The rider also may not cross a physical median, barrier, or intervening space except where permitted. 3 6 2
Accordingly, based solely on these sources, lane splitting is not expressly authorised or banned as such, but it must comply with the stated lane-change, safety, single-file, and roadway-separation rules. 1 2 3
Verified sources
Where this answer comes from
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(1) A person may not drive a motorcycle on a public road unless his or her feet are resting on the front foot-rests suitable for the purpose and, where the design of the motorcycle makes it possible to do so, he or she is seated astride on the saddle of the motorcycle. (2) A person may not carry a passenger on a motorcycle on a public road unless it has an engine with a cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cubic centimetres and unless the passenger is seated in a side- car or astride on a pillion attached to the motorcycle and, in the latter event, the feet of the passenger are resting on foot-rests suitable for that purpose. (3) Subject to subregulation (2), not more than two persons may ride on...
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(1) Whenever any public road is divided into two or more roadways by means of an intervening space or by a physical barrier or dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic, no person may drive a vehicle on that public road except on the left-hand roadway, unless directed or permitted by an appropriate road traffic sign or a traffic off icer to use another roadway. (2) A person may not drive a vehicle on, over, across or within any intervening space, barrier or section referred to in subregulation (1), except through an opening in such space, barrier or section or at a cross- over or intersection, but no person may so drive through any such opening or at any such cross-over...
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(1) The driver of a vehicle may not cross a public road unle ss the road is clear of moving traffic for a sufficient distance to allow him or her to cross the road without obstructing or endangering any such traffic. (2) The driver of a vehicle may not enter a public road unless he or she can do so without endangering himself, herself or other traffic. (3) The driver of a vehicle on a public road divided into traffic lanes by appropriate road traffic signs may not turn from one lane into or across another lane unless he or she can do so without obstru cting or endangering other traffic. Driving signals
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(5) Where the driver of a motor vehicle which is being driven in the right-hand traffic lane or in the traffic lane furthest to the right on a freeway (hereinafter referred to as the first vehicle) becomes aware that the driver of another motor vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the second vehicle) intends to overtake the first vehicle, the driver of the first vehicle must steer that vehicle to a lane to the left of the one in which he or she is driving, without endangering himself, herself, other traffic or property on the freeway, and may not accelerate the speed of his or her vehicle until the second vehicle has passed. (6) For the purposes of subregulation (5) the driver of the second v...
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(1) A person may not ride a pedal cycle on a public road unless he or she is astride on the pedal cycle. (2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road must ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles may not overtake another vehicle at the same time. (3) A person riding or seated on a pedal cycle on a public road may not take hold of any other vehicle in motion. (4) A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road may not deliberately cause the pedal cycle to swerve from side to side. (5) A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road may not carry thereon any person, animal or object which obstructs his or her view...
Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999-Regulations 2001-053
(7) A person driving a motorcycle on a public road or seated on a motorcycle may not take hold of any other vehicle in motion. (8) Any person driving a motorcycle on a public road must do so with at least one hand on the handlebars of the motorcycle. (9) Any person driving a motorcycle on a public road must do so in such manner that all the wheels of the motorcycle are in contact with the surface of the road at all times. (10) [subregulation (10) deleted by GN 205/ 2004] Loud sound amplification system in motor vehicle and motor vehicles causing excessive noise