I know it is unsafe, but I have not found a type of helmet that is really suitable for children under 6 years old. Buying them at the market is light but thin, buying them in supermarkets is a big, heavy hat, the boy cried for a few minutes and had a sore neck" - she said.
I observed on the road, indeed, many parents when taking their children, from 3-5 years old, on a motorbike to school or out without a protective layer for the head - the most important and vulnerable part.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the rate of traumatic brain injuries due to traffic accidents in recent years has remained alarming. Just a minor collision, the baby's head can suffer severe damage because the skull is still thin and the neck is not yet developed to be strong.
It is worth mentioning that there is no mandatory regulation for children under 6 years old to wear helmets. This issue was once controversial when there were opinions that "children under 3 years old have soft collar bones, wearing helmets is dangerous". This view is correct if children have to wear adult hats - which are large and heavy. However, with specialized, light, and reasonable structures, children can be completely protected more safely than not wearing anything.
International studies show: requiring a standard helmet for children aged 3-6 years old can reduce the risk of head injury by 70% and the risk of serious traumatic brain injury by up to 80%. Thus, the real danger is not wearing a helmet, but the lack of a suitable helmet.
The 2008 Road Traffic Law and the Road Traffic Order and Safety Law (effective from January 1, 2025) require all people on motorbikes to wear helmets, but the Decree stipulates the exclusion of children under 6 years old. As a result, many parents consider it an "exemption" and do not care about equipping their children.
However, many parents have sought to buy soft hats or mini hats for their children, even though they are not qualified. That shows that the need to protect children is huge, but lacks direction and official standards. If there are regulations, the market will develop in the right direction, parents will have safe options, and management agencies will have a basis to inspect and supervise.
This is the way to protect your children, not just a pink soft cloth hat on a motorbike, on every road.
