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Helmets
Helmets are compulsory and must be marked BS 6658 1985 or UN/ECE 22-05. A sidecar driver and pillion passenger must wear a helmet, but sidecar passengers do not require a helmet.

Trike regulations are more complicated. A trike rider or passenger may have to wear a helmet and some may even have to wear seat belts depending on vehicle licensing classification. Such things like weight of the machine and whether you sit astride or in a seat are factors that have to be considered. You should check with the DVLA to find the correct classification.

Visors
To be legal, they must conform to BS 4110 – which ensures a level of scratch resistance and permits up to 50% light transmittance. Any other visors are illegal, but sunglasses, tear-offs and inner wrap-arounds are all permitted.

Pillion passengers
No age limit applies, but the pillion rider MUST be able to place both feet on the pillion footrests.

Protective body armour
Effective body armour should carry a CE marking. The most common is EN 1621-1, covering the impact performance and dimensional requirements of armour designed to protect elbows, hips, knees and shoulders. These work by reducing the peak force on the rider’s body and are generally fitted into the clothing. Although in draft form, there are currently no agreed standards for back protectors.

Protective clothing
The following standards are intended for professional riders, but clothing made to these standards will be available to all road riders:

  • Clothing: Standard BS EN 13595-1: 2002 or EN 13595-1
  • Boots: Standard BS EN 13634: 2002 or EN 13634
  • Gloves: Standard still in draft form.

Penalties
Fixed penalty speeding is categorised by the courts as follows:

SP10 = Excess speed – Goods vehicles
SP20 = Excess speed – Non goods/passenger vehicles
SP30 = Excess speed – Private cars and motorcycles
SP40 = Excess speed – Passenger service vehicles i.e. buses
SP50 = Excess Motorway speed limit
SP60 = Excess miscellaneous speeding offences i.e. exceeding temporary speed restriction

Note: These are the codes that appear as endorsements on driving licences in relation to speeds. They are not the same as the police codes on your ‘ticket’, but they are the ones that appear on your licence.

Drink/driving or a dangerous driving conviction
…will result in an automatic 12-month ban. For repeat offenders or particularly high alcohol levels, it may be longer. Two drink driving offences within 10 years could get you a three-year ban. Doctors are now able to take blood to test from unconscious or incapacitated drivers without their consent. Under the Totting Up scheme, points generally last for three years; however, after disqualification, you cannot apply for a new licence until the end of the fourth year. In other circumstances, points can last longer, as follows: 11 years from date of conviction for offences relating to drink /drugs and driving, such as causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink/ drugs and causing death by careless driving then failing to provide a specimen for analysis, four years from date of conviction for reckless/ dangerous driving and offences resulting in disqualification.

Headlights
Headlights must show a white light or yellow tint; any other colour is illegal. The headlight bulb must not be above 55 watts but there is no limit to the number of headlamps on bikes constructed or registered after 1984. Before 1985, there is no limit and there is no requirement for it to have an E stamp on it. Indicators are not a legal requirement but, if fitted, they must work.

Number plates
Number plates must conform to BS AU 145a or, from 1st September 2001, to BS AU 145d and must have black characters on yellow background. Only the authorised font or something substantially similar is permitted. The dimensions must be:

  • Height: 64mm.
  • Width: 44mm.
  • Stroke width: 10mm.
  • Space between characters: 10mm.
  • Space between groups: 30mm.
  • Top, side and bottom margin: 11mm.

Symbols/Emblems
The Euro Stars with GB is the only permitted symbol on UK number plates. New plates from 1st September 2001 must carry the makers’ name/ trademark or other means of ID of maker, plus name and postcode of supplying outlet. Black background plates with white or silver letters are only legal on pre-1st January 1973 machines. Character size as above.

Silencers
All replacement silencers/exhausts must, for road use, be marked as follows: EU e mark or UNECE E mark e.g. e11 or E11 and an approval number e.g. 007 or BS AU 193/T2 or BS AU 193a:1990/T2 or BS AU 193a 1990/T3 or an international mark that is equivalent to BS or Pre 1985 MC Only. If marked NOT FOR ROAD USE, it is not road-legal.

Speedometers
Speedometers must be marked in miles per hour. A conversion sticker on the face of the speedometer for kph clocks is acceptable.

Tyres
Must have tread depth of at least 1mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and in a continuous band around the entire circumference. This is the minimum legal requirement, but be guided by your bike handbook for recommended replacement wear levels.

Fast Facts
Fast Facts is a series of information cards that aim to simplify the laws concerning biking. Keep them with you whenever you ride.

Accidents
If you are involved in a road accident while riding and someone is injured, damage occurs to another vehicle or property or an animal is injured or killed, you must:

  • Stop and remain at the scene for a reasonable period.
  • Give your vehicle and personal details i.e. registration number of vehicle, name and address and details of the vehicle owner, if different, to anyone who has reasonable grounds for requesting these details.

If you do not give your details at the time of the accident, you should report the accident to the police as soon as is reasonable and, in any case, within 24 hours.

In cases of injury to another person, you must also produce your insurance certificate at the scene, if required to do so by anyone with reasonable grounds. If you do not, you must report the accident to the police as soon as is possible and, in any case, within 24 hours, and produce your insurance certificate to the police within seven days.

You should also report any accident to your insurance company as soon as is reasonable to do so.

All police forces tend to conduct breathalyser tests after serious road accidents. Refusing a breathalyser is an offence that carries serious penalties.

If you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, call the BMF Biker Legal Line on 08000 856 243. Make sure you get the names and address of witnesses, details of vehicles and people involved, and report the accident to the police.

Stop checks
What the police expect from you:

  • Stop when required to by a uniformed police officer.
  • Ensure you pull over in a safe place.
  • Wait by your machine and let the police officer approach you.
  • Be civil with the police officer. Don’t forget he/she has discretion in regards to offences that you may be reported for or fined. If you conduct yourself in a civil manner, you may simply get a warning.
  • If you are not carrying your driving licence, insurance certificate or MOT, the officer may issue you with a notice requiring you to produce these documents at a named police station within seven days.

What you should expect from the Police:

  • You should be treated in a civil manner by the officer.
  • If you have committed an offence, the officer should explain this and then take one of the following courses of action: report you for summonsing, issue you a fixed penalty ticket or issue a vehicle rectification notice.
  • The officer has the right to seize your property as evidence of an offence, but not damage it.
  • If your property is seized as evidence – e.g. number plate or exhaust system – consider your position before proceeding in light of further offences being committed (such as riding without displaying a licence plate).
  • If you feel you have been unfairly treated, you should make a note of the officer’s badge number and station, then make a formal complaint by contacting (in person or by telephone) the relevant police station. Ask to speak to the Duty Inspector and advise them of your complaint.

Prosecution by fixed or mobile safety (speed) cameras:

  • In circumstances where an oral notice of prosecution is not given at the time of the offence, then a summons or written notice of prosecution (NIP) must be served within fourteen days.
  • The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 states that a failure to comply with the 14 day requirement is no bar to conviction if a court is satisfied that the name and address of the accused or of the vehicles registered keeper could not be ascertained in time to serve a summons or NIP.
  • If you are in any doubt whatsoever in regard to a prosecution involving a safety camera offence, seek legal advice.
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