Motorcycle helmets — wearing duty, exemptions and approved standards
Covers motorcycle helmet wearing duties, how to fasten the chin strap, penalties, the male Sikh turban exemption, current UNECE and SS9 standards, and the corresponding helmet labels.
Primary source: https://www.police.gov.sg/Knowledge-Hub/Traffic/Traffic-Matters/Labelling-Requirements-for-Motorcycle-Helmets
Wearing duty and exemption
Every person who drives or is carried on a motor cycle must wear securely on their head a protective helmet of a type approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. A rider must not drive with a pillion unless the pillion is also wearing an approved helmet securely. A person must not import, sell, offer for sale, or possess for sale a protective helmet that is not an approved type (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 74(1), (1A) and (2)).
Traffic Police's Riding Theory Booklet explains that the chin strap should be properly fastened under the chin. It says riding with a helmet that is not correctly fastened is illegal, consistent with section 74's requirement to wear the approved helmet securely (SPF, Riding Theory Booklet, para. 47; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 74(1) and (1A)).
The current Road Traffic (Helmet Exemption) Order 2005 states that section 74(1) does not apply to a male Sikh wearing a turban when driving or being carried on a motor cycle (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Helmet Exemption) Order 2005, s. 2). The Order names section 74(1), while section 74(1A) separately restricts a rider from carrying a pillion without a helmet. This guide does not resolve how those provisions apply to a turban-wearing Sikh pillion (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 74(1A); Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Helmet Exemption) Order 2005, s. 2).
Conviction penalties and composition
A person who contravenes section 74(1) or (1A) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment for up to 3 months, or both. For a repeat offender, the maximum is a fine of $2,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. A repeat offender is a person previously convicted or found guilty on at least one earlier occasion of the same offence, whether that earlier conviction was before, on or after 30 June 2021 (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 74(3)–(3A)).
Contravening the import/sale rule in section 74(2) carries a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment for up to 3 months, or both. For a second or subsequent conviction, the maximum is a fine of $2,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 74(4)).
Traffic Police’s current composition table lists riding without a helmet or wearing one insecurely as 3 demerit points and a composition fine of $150 for a light vehicle or $200 for a heavy vehicle (SPF, Penalties for Traffic Offences).
Approved standards and labels
Approved standards from 1 November 2025
Traffic Police says helmets meeting UNECE Regulation No. 22, Revision 5, 06 series (UNECE R22.06) are allowed for sale from 1 November 2025 without going through Singapore’s local helmet-approval process. The SPF page describes these identifiers: an E-mark sewn onto the helmet’s chin strap, a circle around “E” followed by the approving country’s distinguishing number, an approval number beginning with “06”, a helmet-type code, and a production serial number. The type codes are J for jet or open-face, P for full-face or a helmet with a protective chin bar, and PJ for system (modular or flip-front) helmets. Visors must also carry an E-label with test certification (SPF, Updated Standards for Motorcycle Helmets).
SPF says Singapore Standards 9: 2024 (SS9: 2024) is included as an approved standard and will eventually replace SS9: 2014. Both SS9: 2014 and SS9: 2024 are accepted standards from 1 November 2025 until 18 November 2026. Because of the laboratory transition period and five-year validity of each testing approval, helmets certified under SS9: 2014 will continue to be allowed for sale until 19 November 2031 (SPF, Updated Standards for Motorcycle Helmets).
SS9 labels from 1 November 2025
From 1 November 2025, retailers may approach any laboratory accredited for Singapore Standards 9: 2014 (until 18 November 2026) or Singapore Standards 9: 2024 and listed on the Singapore Accreditation Council’s website to conduct SS9 testing. Approval for helmets that meet the SS9 specifications is tagged to the sale of the specific model, and lasts five years from the date of testing (SPF, Labelling Requirements for Motorcycle Helmets certified under Singapore Standards 9: 2014 and 9: 2024).
SS9 approved helmets must be labelled with (SPF, Labelling Requirements for Motorcycle Helmets certified under Singapore Standards 9: 2014 and 9: 2024):
Traffic Police advises motorcyclists to check the manufacture date, usually found under the helmet lining, and replace a helmet every 5 years, even if it still appears to be in good condition (SPF, Updated Standards for Motorcycle Helmets).
Coverage debt
- The SPF labelling page checked on 2026-10-16 does not restate the s 74 wearing duty or composition amounts; those come from the Act and the penalties page / handbook.
- Gazette notifications of approved helmet types under s 74(2A) are not listed in this article.