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Friday, October 12, 1973
CRASH HELMET LAW EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY
New regulations requiring motorcyclists and their pillion passengers
to wear approved safety helmets will come into effect on January 1, 1974.
The new rules, laid down in the Road Traffic (Protective Equipment)
Regulations 1973, were approved by the Executive Council in June this year.
As from January 1 next year, any motorcyclist or pillion rider
who fails to wear an approved safety helmet will be liable to a maxi. num
penalty of a $500 fine and three months' jail for the first offence. For
repeaters, the maximum penalty is a fine of $1,000 and six months' imprisonment.
The new regulations will not affect passengers sitting in a
side car.
Certain individuals, such as turbanned Sikhs, may also be
exempted on application.
Approved protective helmets will be those bearing a mark applied
by the manufacturer indicating compliance with the specifications in British
standards 2001, 1869 or 2495; Japanese industrial standard JIS 8133-1970;
Australian standard E33-1968; and American National Standard Institute
290.1-1971.
Under the regulations only approved helmets may be sold, hired out,
or displayed for sale or hiring. The Commissioner for Transport has
discretion to approve other helmets provided they afford a degree of
protection from injury equal to or greater than those which comply with the
quoted standards.
Possession for sale or hire of an unapproved type of helmet
may lead to a $1,000 fine and six months' jail.
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