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.
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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.