South Carolina State Rep. Joseph Daning filed legislation that would require a standard, rear-facing child safety seat to be used for motorcycle passengers from
birth up to 1 year of age and lap and shoulder belts for children younger than 7 and weighing less than 80 lbs. “We take care of our children in cars, but they’re so unprotected on the back of motorcycles” said Daning.
Rep. Bill Taylor, called Daning’s proposal “government overreach” and said motorcyclists are a safety-conscious community. “The question is why do we need a law?. Who in their right mind would take a 1- or 2-year-old on a motorcycle and risk the safety of that child? I have been riding for decades and has never seen an infant placed on a motorcycle” said Taylor. When the issue was first raised, he suggested that the constituent concerns would be better handled by a family court judge instead of through legislation.
Had to read that first paragraph twice, then make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day.
I used to fantasize about driving my car with a fake baby in a car seat on the roof, but this would be even weirder.
As silly as this is, I would think this legislation would be condoning a horrible practice.
Hey Joseph, have you seen what can happen to a motorcycle in even a mild accident after the rider has rolled free!? Now imagine a child or infant strapped to that bike as it slides across the road and flips over to land upsidedown against the guard rail. Or a car stops suddenly ahead of the motorcyclist. He panic brakes and loses the front end and falls over with the bike going under the rear of the car; he rolls free as the vehicle behind him slams the bike the rest of the way under the first car. Imagine a child or infant strapped to that bike.
Joseph Daning you are the most thoughtless and inconsiderate individual and what you propose is to my mind equal to criminal neglect. You have obviously never ridden a motorcycle and i can tell for a FACT that you are not a father.
Perhaps Mr. Daning would like to be a passenger on one of my motorcycles, strapped into a rigid mounted, rear-facing, safety seat with lap and shoulder restraints binding him to the seat.
I would be glad to offer my shop time to build such a contraption and a bike as well… then I would also be willing to pilot Mr. Daning through a 4 hour ride consisting of busy city riding, as well as expressway riding. This may provide him some insight on just why a lifetime rider considers this to be an impractical and unnerving idea.
wow. This is a great example of the need for an easily accessible & transparent report card on our public servants’ work.
How much money was spent on this?
It shows zero quality research was done.
I’m from SC and I’m not the least bit surprised one of our idiot politicians has come up with something so ridiculous to waste taxpayer money and legislative time on.
it is Simple, and self evident.. if the child cannot reach the passenger footpegs, they CANNOT ride on the street… there is no way to control or, keep them safe.
yes, I have rode in the front with someone when I was a kid… times change, deal with it.
Andy Stapleton
MSF Rider Coach.
Sorry Andy. While I have no intention to put my grandkids on my bike neither do I support or agree to abide by the prescriptions for safety as determined by ignorant legislators or well intentioned safety proponents who can recall a joy of their youth but have taken it upon themselves to deny it to todays kids.
There’s a reason I want my kids to inherit my bikes and it has zero to do with “do as I say not as I do”.
@Dave Blevins – love your idea, but a half hour would be enough. I have ridden on a back of a motorcycle facing the rear to video tape a segment for a TV show I worked with. It was the most disconcerting felling and quite scary at slow speed on a track with a rider I knew and trusted. In traffic he would soil himself in about two turns
More progressive shit-brained thinking to get people hurt or killed.
I’ve ridden for 45 years and I would never consider having a passenger under 6 or 7 years old! Any child younger than that should be banned by law EVERYWHERE as a passenger! Any idiot that would strap a baby into a car seat attached to a motorcycle is just plain irresponsible and stupid!
An infant?? Are you serious!! Ok now lets look at the rest.. Lap and shoulder belts under 7.. hummm. I see where this could be going.. Lets make laws regarding age of Passengers or make the requirements so strict that it will be ridiculous regardless of proper gear..
Just goes to show you
Politics have no business in motorcycling
Who in their right mind would have anyone that age as a passenger on their bike?
I remember talking to an older woman she rode home from the hospital when she was born in a 1920 HD sidecar, that I could live with- I did ask if she still had it,nope
Politicians always say the good outweighs the “unintended consequences”. I’m sure there are some ulterior intentions of this law well beyond the safety of riders that don’t exist for the most part. Now my 8lb. Pomeranian, he has a nice basket. Is that OK?