This consolidation is unofficial and is for reference only.  For the official version of the regulations, consult the original documents on file with the Office of the Registrar of Regulations, or refer to the Royal Gazette Part II.
Regulations are amended frequently.  Please check the list of Regulations by Act to see if there are any recent amendments to these regulations filed with our office that are not yet included in this consolidation.
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Helmet Regulations

made under Sections 170, 170A and 170B of the

Motor Vehicle Act

R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293

O.I.C. 2003-175 (April 25, 2003), N.S. Reg. 99/2003

amended to O.I.C. 2021-283 (effective December 14, 2021), N.S. Reg. 166/2021



Table of Contents


Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.

 

Citation

Motorcycle helmet

Bicycle, in-line skates, roller skates, scooter, and skateboard helmets

General requirements

Section 170A or 170B exemptions


 


Citation

1        These regulations may be cited as the Helmet Regulations.


Motorcycle helmet

2        A person operating a motorcycle or motor scooter must wear a helmet that bears a mark indicating that the helmet is approved or certified as a motorcycle or motor scooter helmet by one or more of the following certification agencies:

 

                   (a)      the British Standards Institute;

 

                   (b)     the Snell Memorial Foundation;

 

                   (c)      the United States of America Department of Transportation;

 

                   (d)     the Economic Commission for Europe.


Bicycle, in-line skates, roller skates, scooter, and skateboard helmets

3        A person riding or operating a bicycle, in-line skates, roller skates, a scooter or a skateboard must wear a helmet that bears a mark indicating that the helmet is approved or certified for use with one of those devices by one or more of the following certification agencies:

 

                   (a)      Canadian Standards Association;

 

                   (b)     Snell Memorial Foundation;

 

                   (c)      American Society for Testing and Materials;

 

                   (d)     U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission;

 

(e)the European Committee for Standardization.


General requirements

4        In addition to meeting the requirements of Section 2 or 3, as applicable, a helmet must, at all times,

 

                   (a)      have a smooth outer surface;

 

                   (b)     be constructed so that the helmet is capable of absorbing energy on impact;

 

                   (c)      be strongly attached to a strap designed to be fastened under the chin of the person wearing it;

 

                   (d)     be undamaged from use or misuse; and

 

                   (e)      properly fit the person wearing it.


Section 170A or 170B exemptions

5        The following persons are exempt from the requirement of Section 170A or 170B of the Motor Vehicle Act to wear a helmet:

 

                   (a)      a person who is in possession of, and produces on request to a peace officer, a valid and subsisting certificate issued by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles certifying that the Registrar is satisfied that the wearing of a helmet would interfere with the person's religious practices;

 

                   (b)     a person whose head is more than 66 cm in circumference; or

 

                   (c)      a person who is in possession of, and produces on request to a peace officer, a valid and subsisting certificate issued by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles on the recommendation of a medical practitioner certifying that the person is, for the period stated in the certificate, unable for medical reasons to wear a helmet.



 

 


Legislative History
Reference Tables

Helmet Regulations

N.S. Reg. 99/2003

Motor Vehicle Act

Note:  The information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

Source Law

The current consolidation of the Helmet Regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Act includes all of the following regulations:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

99/2003

May 1, 2003

date specified

May 16, 2003

85/2016

May 3, 2016

date specified

May 13, 2016

166/2021

Dec 14, 2021

date specified

Dec 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for rules about in force dates of regulations.

Amendments by Provision

ad. = added
am. = amended

fc. = fee change
ra. = reassigned

rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

2(b) (second)....................................

ra. 2(c) 85/2016

2(c)...................................................

ra. from 2(b) (second) 85/2016

2(d)...................................................

ad. 85/2016

3(e)...................................................

ad. 166/2021

 

 

Note that changes to headings are not included in the above table.

Editorial Notes and Corrections

 

Note

Effective
date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repealed and Superseded

N.S.
Regulation

Title

In force
date

Repealed
date

 

 

 

 

Note:  Only regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table.  It may not reflect the entire history of regulations on this subject matter.