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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY A.K.F. GREEN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2011
Question
"Could the Minister outline the progress made to date in relation to the preparation of appropriate legislation for the compulsory wearing of protective helmets for cyclists under 18 and when the Minister envisages he will be in a position to bring forward draft legislation?"
Answer
Initial discussions have been held with suppliers of cycle helmets, early research on suitable helmet standards has been undertaken and the Department has outline options for progressing legislation.
Further to this, it is my intention to ask the Working Group on Cycling that I established, to offer some guidance to myself and the Department on where any legislation should apply, to whom, who would enforce and with what sanctions before formulating the relevant drafting instructions. Although that group held an initial meeting last year, it has not reconvened as my Department is to prepare a paper explaining the various legislation relating to cycling along with the issues and options. That paper is in the process of being prepared and once it is ready for presentation, I and the Department hope to benefit from the guidance of the group.
If it is accepted that the compulsory wearing of cycle helmets is restricted to public roads, cycle tracks and roads in parks, it may be feasible to bring forward draft legislation within the next six months, assuming suitable resources are available in the relevant Departments that would have to progress the draft amendments to legislation. If it is expected that cycle helmets must be worn in anyplace, whenever and wherever a person under 18 years old is riding a bicycle, I believe this will require new legislation, significant resources and take considerably longer to progress.