On February 15, 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022 to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 in order to prescribe norms related to safety measures for children below four years of age, riding or being carried on a motor cycle. Further, it specifies use of a safety harness and crash helmet. It also restricts speed of such motor cycles 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.
Key amendment:
- Rule 138 which specify “Signals and additional safety measures for motor vehicle” the following sub-clause (7) has been inserted:
“(7) After one year from the date of publication of the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, the driver of a motorcycle shall ensure the following safety measures while carrying a child between the age of nine months and four years, on the vehicle as a pillion, namely: –
(i) For children below four years, Safety harness shall be used for attaching the child to the driver of the motorcycle.
Explanation.- Safety harness is a vest to be worn by the child, which shall be adjustable, with a pair of straps attached to the vest and forming shoulder loops to be worn by the driver. This way, the upper torso of the child is securely attached to the driver. A feature by which this is achieved is by attaching the straps to the back of the vest and crossing the straps over the vest so that two large crossing-over loops are formed that pass between the legs of the passenger and child sits on the seat of the two-wheeler. The protective gear including Safety harness shall meet the following requirements till such time the specifications are prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016):-
Specifications of Safety harness
(a) Light weight, adjustable, waterproof and durable;
(b) Heavy nylon/ multi-filament nylon material with high density foam with sufficient cushioning;
(c) Shall be designed to hold weight upto 30 kg.