Safety Harness, Crash Helmet Mandatory For Children Below 4 Years On A Two-Wheeler, Says MoRTH

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified new safety guidelines for two-wheelers riders with children as pillion, including a crash helmet for kids between nine months and four years and a safety harness that will attach the child to the rider. The speed limit for these two-wheelers would be restricted to 40 kmph. The new guidelines will come into force from February 15, 2023. Additionally, flouting these new guidelines would attract a fine of Rs. 1,000 and a three-month suspension of the driver's licence.

Also Read: Crash Helmet & Safety Harness; MoRTH Proposes Safety Guidelines For Two-Wheelers Riders With Kids As Pillion

The notification reads, “The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, vide notification dated 15th February 2022 has amended Rule 138 of CMVR, 1989 and has prescribed norms related to safety measures for children below four years of age, riding or being carried on a motorcycle This has been notified under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which mandates that the Central Government may, by rules, provide for measures for the safety of children below four years of age, riding or being carried on a motorcycle. Further, it specifies the use of a safety harness and crash helmet. It also restricts the speed of such motorcycles to 40 kmph. These rules will come into force after one year from the date of publication of the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022.”

Riders will have to restrict the speed of the two-wheeler to 40 kmph when there's a child as a pillion. 

In October last year, MoRTH had issued a draft notification proposing to improve the safety quotient with aims to limit the speed to not more than 40 kmph for two-wheelers with a child up to four years. The ministry also proposed that children between nine months and four years of age riding pillion a two-wheeler will need to wear a crash helmet.