Rules for carrying passengers on any motorcycle


• You must not carry a pillion passenger when you are learning to ride a class RE or R motorcycle and during the first 12 months of holding your class RE or R licence.

• Each of your passengers must wear an approved motorcycle helmet securely fastened at all times other than when the motorcycle is parked.

• Your pillion passenger on a moving motorcycle must be astride the pillion seat and face forwards. They must be at least eight years of age and their feet must be able to reach the passenger footrests while seated.

• You must not carry more passengers in the motorcycle's sidecar than the sidecar was designed to carry.

• Your passenger must be seated safely on the pillion seat or in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.

• Your pillion passenger must not ride on the motorcycle unless it has a suitable pillion seat and suitable passenger footrests

• Your passenger must not interfere with your effective control of the motorcycle.

Parking

When parking a motorcycle or moped, position at least one wheel as close as possible to the kerb. Park a motorcycle with a sidecar parallel to the kerb. You must obey the parking rules.

Preparing to get on the road

Before riding on the road, check the following safety equipment on your motorcycle is working:

• headlight

• rear and brake light that shows a red light

• rear number plate light (clear)

• rear red reflector

• front and rear brakes

footrests for you and for your pillion passenger, if the motorcycle is registered to carry a pillion

• horn

• chain guard - if the motorcycle is chain driven, an appropriate chain guard must be fitted

• chain - if the motorcycle is chain driven, ensure that the chain is correctly adjusted and lightly lubricated

• right and left rear-vision mirrors - a left rear-vision mirror is optional if the motorcycle was manufactured before June 1975

• safe tyres (with a tread at least 1.5mm deep

• indicators (if manufactured after 1962).