Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 12th May 1999.

(2) In these Regulations—

“EEA State” means a State which is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993(2).

Protective headgear

2.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side-car) on a motor bicycle when on a road shall wear protective headgear.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to any person driving or riding on a motor bicycle if—

(a)it is a mowing machine; or

(b)it is for the time being propelled by a person on foot.

(3) In this regulation—

“motor bicycle” means a two-wheeled motor cycle, whether or not having a side-car attached, and for the purposes of this definition where the distance measured between the centre of the area of contact with the road surface of any two wheels of a motor cycle is less than 460 millimetres, those wheels shall be counted as one wheel;

“protective headgear” means a helmet which—

“strap” includes any fastening device.

Prescribed types of recommended helmet

3.—(1) The types of helmet hereby prescribed as types of helmet recommended as affording protection to persons on or in motor cycles from injury in the event of an accident are helmets which as regards their shape, construction and other qualities conform—

(a)with British Standard 6658:1985 as amended by Amendment Slip number 1 published on 28th February 1986 and are marked with the number of that standard, or

(b)with any other standard accepted by an EEA State which offers in use equivalent levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose and are marked with a mark to indicate that standard,

and in either case are marked with an approved certification mark of an approved body (whether or not they are required to be so marked by the standard in point).

(2) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a)an approved certification mark is—

(i)the certification mark of the British Standards Institution; or

(ii)a certification mark which indicates that a conformity assessment equivalent to that of the British Standards Institution has been undertaken, and

(b)an approved body is—

(i)the British Standards Institution; or

(ii)any body approved by an EEA State to undertake conformity assessments equivalent to those undertaken by the British Standards Institution.

Saving for the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

4.  Nothing in regulation 3(1) shall be taken to authorise any person to apply any number or mark referred to therein in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968(3), the Consumer Protection Act 1987(4) or the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987(5).

Revocation

5.  The Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981(6) and the Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986(7) are hereby revoked.

(Regulation 2(1))

SCHEDULEBritish Standards

1.  British Standard 2001:1956 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

2.  British Standard 1869:1960 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

3.  British Standard 2495:1960 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

4.  British Standard 2001:1972 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

5.  British Standard 5361:1976

6.  British Standard 2495:1977

7.  British Standard 5361:1976 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

8.  British Standard 2495:1977 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

9.  British Standard 5361:1976 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

10.  British Standard 2495:1977 as amended by the following Amendment Slips—

11.  British Standard 6658:1985 as amended by the following Amendment Slip—

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations revoke and consolidate with amendments the Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981 (“the 1981 Regulations”) and the Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986. The 1981 Regulations prescribed certain types of helmet recommended as affording protection to persons on or in motor cycles from injury in the event of accident. The types of helmet were prescribed by reference to conformity with certain British Standards and by appropriate markings.

These Regulations require every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side-car) on a motor cycle on a road to wear protective headgear as defined in regulation 2. This requirement does not extend to a mowing machine, or vehicle being propelled by persons on foot (regulation 2(2)). Nor does it extend, by virtue of Article 27(2) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, to a follower of the Sikh religion while he is wearing a turban.

Regulation 3 prescribes certain types of helmet recommended as affording protection to persons on or in motor cycles from injury in the event of an accident. The types of helmet are so prescribed by reference to British Standard 6658:1985 as amended or any other standard accepted by a European Economic Area (“EEA”) State which offers in use equivalent levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose. In each case the helmet must be marked with the relevant standard with which it conforms and an approved certification mark of an approved body. In this context “equivalent levels” means levels which are the same or greater in respect of the factors specified. The 1981 Regulations did not prescribe types of helmet by reference to standards accepted by EEA States.

British Standard 6658:1985 may be obtained from any outlet operated by the British Standards Institution (BSI) or by post from BSI at 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (Telephone number: 0181-996 9000).

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (O.J. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37).

Copies of this Directive can be obtained from The Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.