Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Driving the M3W with a Helmet?

Nothing to do with the noise of the car

I had a discussion with Borghi the other day on the subject of helmets in the M3W in Italy.

He confirmed that by law both a helmet and seatbelts must be used. The M3W is not homologated to comply with the requirements of a safety cage in Italy. The authority was specifically asked if the fitting of a higher roll bar (as for Australia) would suffice: the reply was no because there was no proof (as in crash tests etc) that the rest of the frame was sufficiently strong to ensure that the roll bar would not collapse. I can well imagine that the Australian homologation testing would not be accepted by the Italian bureaucracy.

If a two or three wheeler is fitted with a passenger safety cage and seatbelts the obligation of wearing a helmet is waved, however in the case of a three wheeler in which a helmet must be used there is no obligation for seat belts unless the three wheeler has been homologated with seat belts fitted.

All this means that when driving an M3W in Italy both driver and passenger must use both a helmet and seatbelts.

If you do not use a helmet you risk not only a fine but having the car towed away. Depends a bit on how nasty the police feel like being. If you do get stopped it is more likely to satisfy the curiosity of the cop but I would not take the risk.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was recommended not to use a seat belt while wearing a helmet , as the extra weight could result in neck injuries in the event of an accident .

The risk of getting hurt is much greater without the belt.

Otherwise they would not buckle up in race cars when wearing helmets ....

Certainly. The law (that does not require a seatbelt on trikes) was made for three wheelers where the rider/driver is not enclosed in a cockpit and more likely to go rolling down the road in the event of an accident. In the case of the M3W I would always wear the seatbelt for safety and I also think a helmet is a good idea whatever the law may say.

Notting for me
Freedom

Tête dure

Is there a list somewhere of countries vs M3W regulations? i.e. if I were to drive an M3W to France or Spain or Germany would I need a motorbike license, helmet, etc?