The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has recently amended Rule 138 of the CMVR, 1989, prescribing norms relating to safety measures for children below four years of age when riding a motorcycle.
According to the notification, under section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the Central Government may, by rule, provide for measures for the safety of children below the age of four years on a motorcycle. Children will be required to wear a safety harness and a crash helmet, among other measures.
The ministry says a safety harness is an adjustable vest worn by the child, which, in turn, is attached to the shoulder loops of the rider’s vest in such a way that the child’s upper torso is securely attached to the rider.
The safety equipment, including the safety harness, shall satisfy the following requirements, till the specification is laid down under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016).
In addition, the rider must ensure that a child between nine months and four years of age wears a rear-facing crash helmet that fits over his head, or wears a bicycle helmet that complies with [ASTM 1447],[European (CEN)BS EN 1080/BS EN 1078] Unless the specifications are laid down by BIS. Finally, the speed of a motorcycle – a child up to four years old being carried as a pillion – should not exceed 40kph.
These rules will come into force after one year from the date of publication of the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022.
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