Many proposals and amendments to regulations on transporting children on cars and motorbikes

At the 31st session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

Notably, the content related to protecting children when participating in traffic has had many new additions and adjustments.

Adjusting regulations when transporting children under 10 years old, under 1.35m tall in cars

According to the Standing Committee of the National Defense and Security Committee, during the discussion at the 6th Session, there were opinions from delegates suggesting reviewing relevant regulations on safety standards and other regulations in the draft law to ensure safety for children when participating in traffic.

Prioritize assistance in the event of traffic accidents for vulnerable groups, including children, and refer to international experience to regulate the use of safety equipment for children transported in cars.

The bill raises the age at which children must use car seat restraints to 12 years old.

Supplementing regulations that children under 4 years old traveling in cars must be supervised by adults or must be transported in child safety equipment and proposing a roadmap for implementing the use of safety equipment for children under 4 years old.

In response to the delegates' opinions, the Standing Committee of the Committee coordinated with the drafting agency to review, supplement and revise specific provisions in the draft law to ensure feasibility and adjust age and height in accordance with international practices.

Accordingly, the latest bill stipulates that when transporting children under 10 years old and under 1.35m tall in a car without an adult sitting with them, the driver must instruct and use appropriate safety equipment.

At the same time, the content of this regulation will be implemented according to the roadmap after 1 year when the law takes effect, assigning the Ministry of Science and Technology to issue technical regulations on safety equipment for children in cars.

Many adjustments and additions of new regulations

According to the Standing Committee, there are opinions suggesting clarifying the regulation that the age for children to be led by an adult when crossing the street is 7 years old, and another opinion suggests raising it to 11 years old.

Regarding this content, the Standing Committee of the Committee found that the regulation that children under 7 years old must be led by an adult when crossing the street is inherited from the 2008 Road Traffic Law, which has been implemented stably, without any problems in practice.

Therefore, the Standing Committee of the Committee proposed that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly keep the draft as presented at the 6th session to ensure feasibility and suitability with the current physical condition of children.

In addition, there is a proposal that children under 6 years old sitting on the back of bicycles and motorbikes must have safety equipment and seats specifically for children.

Along with that, it is proposed to add a regulation that children riding bicycles must wear helmets when participating in traffic. There are also opinions that the regulation when carrying children under 14 years old on two-wheeled motorbikes or motorbikes is not suitable for the current physical condition of children.

Regarding the above opinions, the Standing Committee said that it has accepted them in a direction suitable to current practice.

Accordingly, the revised regulation in the draft is that when transporting children under 6 years old by motorbike or scooter without an adult sitting with them, there must be a seat belt or a seat specifically for children.

Adjusting regulations that drivers of bicycles, motorbikes, and electric bicycles when carrying children under 7 years old are allowed to carry a maximum of two people to protect children, and drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes and motorbikes when carrying children under 12 years old are allowed to carry a maximum of two people.

The draft stipulates that people riding motorbikes and electric bicycles must wear helmets that meet standards, are of good quality, and have their straps fastened properly.

According to the Standing Committee, the above regulations inherit current regulations and are consistent with Vietnamese practice.