The Road Transport Ministry at the Centre has reportedly notified new rules to make the use of safety harness and crash helmets mandatory for children below the age of four on motorcycles. The safety harness is to be used for attaching the child to the rider of the motorcycle. The new rule also states that the speed of a motorcycle with a child up to the age of four years being carried pillion will not be more than 40 kmph. This is a good move by the government as no safety measures were in place for little children. At times a woman who is pillion-riding is even seen carrying an infant precariously in her arms. This can prove very dangerous for the woman and the child. Children sometimes are made to stand on the foot-rest of the scooter. This needs to be banned. The child can bang it’s head on the steering handle of the vehicle when brakes are applied. The new rules will reportedly come into force in a year’s time. Until such time the harness and helmet for children needs to be made available in the market.
