5.7. Are passengers required to wear fastened motorcycle helmets while riding on motorcycles and mopeds?
UAЧи повинні пасажири бути в застебнутих мотошоломах під час пересування на мотоциклах і мопедах?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about passive safety on two-wheeled vehicles and the protection of passengers while in motion. The use of a fastened motorcycle helmet on a motorcycle or moped directly reduces the risk of serious head injuries in the event of a fall, sudden braking, or collision, which is why this requirement is established in the traffic rules as mandatory, not "optional" or only for certain roads.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the duties of passengers and the use of passive safety equipment, in particular clause 5.2 (b). It explicitly states: while riding a motorcycle or moped, the passenger must wear a fastened motorcycle helmet. This is an important nuance for the theoretical exam: it is not enough to simply wear a helmet, it must be secured with a fastener, and the exceptions mentioned in this clause refer to seat belts, not motorcycle helmets.
If we analyze the options, the restriction "only on highways" is incorrect, because the Traffic Rules do not tie the helmet requirement to the type of road. The statement that passengers do not need a helmet also contradicts clause 5.2 (b) and safety practices. Therefore, the correct logic for this exam question is as follows: the requirement to wear a fastened motorcycle helmet always applies while riding a motorcycle or moped, and the driver additionally does not have the right to start moving without making sure that the passenger is using passive safety equipment.
Clause 5.2 b) (passenger duties regarding passive safety devices)
“Passengers, when using a vehicle, must: … b) while traveling in a vehicle equipped with seat belts (except for passengers with disabilities whose physiological characteristics prevent the use of seat belts), be buckled up, and on a motorcycle or moped — wear a fastened motorcycle helmet.”
Brief application: this clause directly establishes the unconditional duty of a passenger on a motorcycle or moped to be specifically in a fastened motorcycle helmet while moving (the exceptions in the text apply only to seat belts, not motorcycle helmets).
Therefore, the correct answer is "They must in any case.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, passengers while riding a motorcycle or moped are required to be in a fastened motorcycle helmet.
When a passenger gets on a motorcycle or moped, they become a full participant in road traffic and must fulfill the established duties of a passenger. One of the key duties concerns the use of passive safety devices while in motion.
Clause 5.2(b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine directly states: while riding a motorcycle or moped, the passenger must wear a motorcycle helmet, and it must be fastened. That is, it is not enough just to have the helmet on your head or to hold it in your hands or on your lap—the helmet must be secured with a fastener so that it does not fly off during a sudden maneuver or fall.
The logic of this requirement is simple: the motorcycle helmet is the main means of passive safety on two-wheeled vehicles. In a real traffic situation, even sudden braking, avoiding an obstacle, or a minor collision is enough for the passenger to lose balance. If the helmet is not fastened, it can shift or fly off, and then head protection essentially disappears.
It is also important to remember that the driver is responsible for ensuring a safe start: they are prohibited from starting to move if they have not made sure that passengers are using passive safety devices. Therefore, the requirement for a fastened motorcycle helmet for the passenger always applies while the motorcycle or moped is in motion.
Thus, the correct answer is "They must in any case," since the Traffic Rules require the passenger of a motorcycle or moped to be wearing a fastened motorcycle helmet as a mandatory means of passive safety while in motion.