{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-cycles-protective-headgear-regulations-northern-ireland-1999/regulation-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-cycles-protective-headgear-regulations-northern-ireland-1999/regulation-2.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/1999/170",
  "legislation_title": "Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-cycles-protective-headgear-regulations-northern-ireland-1999",
  "path": "regulation/2",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Protective headgear",
  "text": "(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side-car) on a motor bicycle or motor quadricycle when on a road shall wear protective headgear.\n(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to any person driving or riding on a motor bicycle if—\n(a) it is a mowing machine; or\n(b) it is for the time being propelled by a person on foot.\n(3) In this regulation—\n“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;\n“motor quadricycle” means a four-wheeled motor vehicle which—\n(a)has an unladen weight not exceeding 550 kilograms;\n(b)is steered by handlebars; and\n(c)is operated with the driver seated astride a seat which is mounted on the vehicle longitudinally;\n“protective headgear” means a helmet which—\n(a)either—\n(i)bears a marking applied by its manufacturer indicating compliance with the specifications contained in one of the British Standards (whether or not as modified by any amendment) mentioned in the Schedule; or\n(ii)is of a type manufactured for use by persons on motor cycles which by virtue of its shape, material and construction could reasonably be expected to afford to the wearer a degree of protection from accidental injury similar to or greater than that provided by a helmet of a type prescribed by regulation 3;\n(b)if worn with a chin cup attached to or held in position by a strap, is provided with an additional strap (to be fastened under the wearer’s jaw) for securing the helmet to the head; and\n(c)is securely fastened to the head by means of straps provided for that purpose; and\n“strap” includes any fastening device.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (30.6.2017) by The Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/89), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2(3) inserted (30.6.2017) by The Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/89), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 2 in operation at 12.5.1999, see reg. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1999/170/regulation/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T02:19:59.776414+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}