Children under 4 must wear harness, crash helmets: MoRTH

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in a notification issued on February 15, 2022, has amended Rule 138 of CMVR, 1989, prescribing norms related to safety measures for children below four years of age.

• Safety harness is attached to the rider using shoulder straps
• Speed of motorcycle seating a child aged under four should not exceed 40kph
• Harness should be able to hold up to 30kg weight

As per 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 four years of age sitting on a motorcycle. Furthermore, it specifies the use of a safety harness and crash helmet, and also restricts speed of such motorcycles to 40kph.

The ministry states that a safety harness is an adjustable vest worn by the child, which, in turn, is attached to the shoulder loops of the driver’s vest in a way that the upper torso of the child is securely attached to the driver. How this is achieved is by attaching the straps to the back of the vest and crossing it over so that two large loops pass between the legs of the passenger, thereby ensuring that the child sits on the seat of the two-wheeler.

The protective gear, including the safety harness, shall meet the following requirements till such time the specifications are prescribed under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016).

Specifications of safety harness

• Lightweight, adjustable, waterproof and durable
• Heavy nylon/multi-filament nylon material with high density foam with sufficient cushioning
• Will be designed to hold up to 30kg

Furthermore, the rider shall ensure that the child pillion passenger aged between nine months and four years will wear a crash helmet which fits his/her head, or wear a bicycle helmet complying with [ASTM 1447]/[European (CEN)BS EN 1080/BS EN 1078] until the specifications are prescribed by the BIS. Lastly, the speed of the motorcycle – seating a child up to four years of age being carried as a pillion – shall not be more than 40kph.

The rules will come into force one year after the date of publication of the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022.

What are your thoughts on this rule? Do you think it will keep kids safer on bikes? Let us know in the comments.