Is it Legal for a baby to ride pillion on a Motorcycle?

Orionaut

Orionaut

Orionaut

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This Story got me thinking about it.

I don't know the answer, but I have never seen it (I have seen children in side cars but that is a very different thing)

I have always been a bit concerned about Pedal Cyclists strapping children to their bikes. As the GOS pointed out in one of his Blogs, a third of casualties involving cyclists involve no other vehicles. They fell off all on their own!

As far as risk to very young passengers is concerned, It must be considerably more dangerous to transport a Baby on a Bicycle than on the front seat of a car (Even without a baby carrier, which is of course illegal)!

And especially in a wheelbarrow style machine!

So why isn't it illegal for cyclists to do so?
 
It's illegal for a pillion passenger to be unable to reach the pegs. But you can raise the pegs up. Small children are about as young as you can go. It's pretty much impossible to fit a baby on as a pillion, even with raising the pegs. Then the usual safety stuff applies such as a properly fitted helmet.

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q397.htm
 
He knows what he's doing, yet he's cycling his kids around in a wheelbarrow in central London and isn't wearing a helmet himself?

Yeah. He's not the problem :rolleyes:
 
I have no idea about motorcycles and children but the guy in the story is fine. You get loads of people with kids in a little kiddie trailer. Halfords sell them, how is that any different to the bike in the story.
 
Gilly said:
He knows what he's doing, yet he's cycling his kids around in a wheelbarrow in central London and isn't wearing a helmet himself?

Yeah. He's not the problem :rolleyes:
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Derp. First up, why do people think cyclists not wearing helmets is the problem? Surely the problem is people driving into them and causing accidents.

Further to that, there is no evidence that wearing a helmet prevents any injury. Do you think any of the several people crushed by HGVs in London recently were any better off for wearing a helmet?
 
Gilly said:
He knows what he's doing, yet he's cycling his kids around in a wheelbarrow in central London and isn't wearing a helmet himself?

Yeah. He's not the problem :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure what you're implying here. Cycle helmets are not compulsory and many people prefer not to wear them. Common sense suggests that at least his children should be wearing helmets, but assuming that he is a proficient cyclist, then there is no reason for him (or indeed his children) to be wearing a helmet. The vast majority of KSI's in cycling accidents relate to chest injuries, rather than head injuries.
 
One More Solo said:
Derp. First up, why do people think cyclists not wearing helmets is the problem? Surely the problem is people driving into them and causing accidents.

Further to that, there is no evidence that wearing a helmet prevents any injury. Do you think any of the several people crushed by HGVs in London recently were any better off for wearing a helmet?
Click to expand...

are you smoking cannabis?
helmets prevent serious brain injury in accidents
 
Sorry, that should have read that there is no evidence that helmets prevent serious injury. They'll save you if you fall off and hit your head on the pavement at low speed, realistically anything worse than that and it's a bonus if they help.
 
lol @ the comments
He obviously doesn't know what he's doing. If he did, he wouldn't be cycling around with his daughters having their helmets dangling at the backs of their heads. What is the point of wearing an ill-fitting helmet without the straps done up properly so that only the back of your head is covered?! The helmets would not protect them at all in an accident. Wise up!
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people commenting on stuff they don't understand as always ignorant daily mail readers should be shot.

the straps are not supposed to be tight........
 
One More Solo said:
Derp. First up, why do people think cyclists not wearing helmets is the problem? Surely the problem is people driving into them and causing accidents.

Further to that, there is no evidence that wearing a helmet prevents any injury. Do you think any of the several people crushed by HGVs in London recently were any better off for wearing a helmet?
Click to expand...

You can derp all you want and I won't judge you for it, but the rubbish afterwards can't go ignored.

You don't think that it is a good idea for a cyclist ferrying around young children to take all reasonable precautions for their and their children's safety? he falls, even at low speed, and bangs his head. Who makes sure his kids are OK? He's an idiot.

As for no evidence that helmets prevent injury, just :/
 
Gilly said:
You can derp all you want and I won't judge you for it, but the rubbish afterwards can't go ignored.

You don't think that it is a good idea for a cyclist ferrying around young children to take all reasonable precautions for their and their children's safety? he falls, even at low speed, and bangs his head. Who makes sure his kids are OK? He's an idiot.

As for no evidence that helmets prevent injury, just :/
Click to expand...
watch this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22297750

As for no evidence that helmets prevent injury, just :/
Click to expand...
there is no evidence a helmet would have saved a life if I remember right
 
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Gilly said:
As for no evidence that helmets prevent injury, just :/
Click to expand...

Interestingly enough, Australia has had mandatory cycle helmet laws for 20 years or so. Their ratio of deaths and serious injuries is broadly similar to our own. A study (link to follow, so that this is not pure rhetoric) found that motorists are more cautious of cyclists without a helmet.
 
Gilly said:
You can derp all you want and I won't judge you for it, but the rubbish afterwards can't go ignored.

You don't think that it is a good idea for a cyclist ferrying around young children to take all reasonable precautions for their and their children's safety? he falls, even at low speed, and bangs his head. Who makes sure his kids are OK? He's an idiot.

As for no evidence that helmets prevent injury, just :/
Click to expand...

http://road.cc/content/news/34527-c...ury-risk-much-its-thought-claims-new-analysis

As above, more recent studies have shown that the benefit of helmet wearing is hugely overstated.

Knee jerk reactions to any cycling related article appears to be:

-Compulsory helmets
-Headphone ban
-Cycle tax/licensing

None of the above make a blind bit of difference. Instead, better road planning and education of road users is key. But, hey, when someone turns across a cycle path without checking and wipes out bloke from the OP article it's much easier to blame him for not wearing a helmet.
 
Rossi~ said:
That doesn't answer the question.

Common sense surely dictates that wearing a helmet is safer than not, right? It will stop your head caving in if it hit a kerb surely?
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okay then I will rephrase that question , instead of answering it......

You don't think that it is a good idea for a pedestrian walking around young children to take all reasonable precautions for their and their children's safety? he falls, even at low speed, and bangs his head. Who makes sure his kids are OK? He's an idiot.
Click to expand...

Common sense surely dictates that wearing a helmet is safer than not, right? It will stop your head caving in if you trip surely?
 
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