On 30 November 2009 there will be some changes to the road rules for motorcyclists

The new rules

There are three new rules for motorcyclists.

• No pillion passengers under eight years old. A child under eight years of age can't be carried as a passenger on a motorcycle, unless in a sidecar.
• Travelling in a sidecar. When a sidecar is used, it can only carry the number of passengers for which it is designed, and the passengers must be seated.
• No animals between rider and handlebars. Animals can't be carried between the rider and the handlebars of a motorcycle.

Exemptions
There is an exemption for farmers. While working, a farmer can carry an animal between the rider and the handlebars of a motorcycle for up to 500 metres on a road.

What you have to do
If you are carrying young passengers, other than in a sidecar make sure that they are at least eight years old, they can reach the foot pegs and they are wearing an approved motorcycle helmet.

Also limit your sidecar passengers, make sure they are always seated and use other ways to transport animals.

Road safety reasons
Motorcyclists are amongst the most vulnerable of all road users. They are 34 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than car drivers and passengers.

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