Amendment to the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 19954
1
In Article 24 (restriction on carrying children not wearing seat belts in motor vehicles) after paragraph (1) insert—
1A
Where—
a
a child is in the front of a motor vehicle other than a bus;
b
the child is in a rear-facing child restraining device; and
c
the passenger seat where the child is placed is protected by a front air bag,
a person must not without reasonable excuse drive the vehicle on a road unless the air bag is deactivated.
2
In paragraph (2) of that Article after “paragraph (1)” insert “or (1A)”.
3
For paragraph (3) of that Article substitute the following—
3
Except as provided by regulations, where—
a
a child under the age of 3 years is in the rear of a motor vehicle; or
b
a child of or over that age but under the age of 14 years is in the rear of a motor vehicle and any seat belt is fitted in the rear of that vehicle,
a person must not without reasonable excuse drive the vehicle on a road unless the child is wearing a seat belt in conformity with regulations.
4
In paragraph (11) of that Article insert before the definition of “maximum laden weight”—
“bus” means a motor vehicle that—
- a
has at least four wheels,
- b
is constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers,
- c
has more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and
- d
has a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres per hour;
5
After paragraph (11) of that Article insert—
12
The reference in paragraph (1A) to the air bag being deactivated includes a reference to the case where the air bag is designed or adapted in such a way that it cannot inflate enough to pose a risk of injury to a child travelling in a rear-facing child restraining device in the seat in question.