Pillion Passengers (Hansard, 13 June 2003)

§ Mr. Jamieson

There is no minimum age for a person to be a pillion passenger on a motorcycle.

There are a number of regulations relevant to the safety of pillion passengers. The key legislative requirements are: The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 require that only motorcyclists who have passed a motorcycle test can carry passengers. Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that no more than one passenger may be carried and passengers must be capable of sitting astride a proper seat securely fixed to the motorcycle. Section 102 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 requires that the machine must be equipped with suitable supports or rests for the feet of the pillion passenger. The Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1998 require that passengers must wear a safety helmet. Section 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 requires that passengers must be carried in a manner so that no danger is caused, or likely to be caused, to any person on the vehicle or on the road. Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 makes it an offence to use a vehicle when the number of passengers, or the manner in which they are carrited, is such that it involves a danger of injury to any person.

As part of its Road Safety Strategy the Government have embarked on a package of measures to improve the safety of all motorcyclists. These include improvements to testing and training; making drivers more aware of 175W the vulnerability of motorcyclists; and promoting improvements in technical standards. The Government recently launched a safety publicity campaign aimed at urban motorcycling and is working on further safety publicity aimed at those who ride big bikes. These initiatives will improve the safety of pillion passengers as well as riders.