Colorado motorcycle passenger laws establish requirements for where passengers can sit and whether they need to wear protective gear. Motorcycle passengers must wear a helmet if they’re under 18, and all passengers must ride behind the driver and use footrests or ride in an enclosed cab or sidecar.
Adhering to these requirements and other traffic laws could reduce a passenger’s and an operator’s risk of injury.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Carrying a Passenger on a Motorcycle?
Colorado motorcycle laws don’t establish many specific requirements for riding with passengers. For example, there is no state age limit for riding as a passenger on a motorcycle. However, motorcycle equipment requirements prohibit a motorcycle operator from carrying a passenger on a vehicle designed to carry one person. Make sure a motorcycle’s design accommodates passengers before riding as a passenger or allowing a passenger to ride with you.
The Colorado Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division’s motorcycle handbook offers safety tips motorcycle operators should remember when riding with passengers. They include:
- Motorcyclists should ride more slowly than they usually would when riding with passengers. That is particularly important when navigating curves and turns.
- Motorcycle operators with passengers should slow down earlier than usual when approaching stops.
- The cushion of space between a motorcycle and other vehicles, fixtures, or obstructions should be larger than usual when a motorcyclist has a passenger.
- Motorcyclists should wait for larger gaps than they would typically wait for when crossing, entering, or merging with traffic while riding with passengers.
- Motorcyclists should warn their passengers when special conditions arise. For example, a motorcyclist who expects to hit a bump should warn a passenger before doing so.
Where Does the Passenger Have to Sit?
A passenger on a motorcycle must sit in one of two locations:
- Behind the motorcycle’s operator
- To the side in a sidecar
Colorado motorcycle passenger behavior requirements prohibit passengers from sitting directly in front of motorcycle operators. Obscuring an operator’s view in any way is dangerous.
Additionally, a passenger should mount the motorcycle after the driver has turned it on.
They must keep both feet on the pegs, even at stop signs and stop lights, and keep their legs away from the muffler. They should keep a firm grip on the driver’s waist, belt, or hips and lean as the driver leans.
What Are the Helmet Requirements for Colorado Motorcycle Passengers?
Colorado motorcycle helmet laws require motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 to wear helmets while riding. The helmet must comply with Colorado Department of Transportation (CODOT) standards.
CODOT encourages riders and passengers to check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) page on choosing a motorcycle helmet to find one that serves their needs. That means an approved helmet must meet the federal Department of Transportation criteria and bear the DOT symbol.
Motorcycle operators and passengers don’t need to wear helmets if they are 18 or older. However, wearing a helmet is still a wise decision, even when it’s not a legal requirement.
If you wear a helmet, the helmet must be secured with a chin strap. Wearing an unsecured helmet isn’t enough to fulfill the requirements.
Is There a Height Requirement for Being a Passenger on a Motorcycle in Colorado?
Colorado laws require motorcycles to be equipped with footrests for passengers. Passengers must use the footrests while riding.
There is no official height requirement or limit to ride as a motorcycle passenger in Colorado. The only height requirement is that passengers be tall enough to comfortably keep their feet on the footrests.
What Are the Penalties for Violating Colorado’s Motorcycle Passenger Laws?
Violating one of these laws is a Class A traffic infraction under Colorado motorcycle laws. The penalty for a Class A traffic infraction is usually a fine of $15 to $100. However, fines may be greater in unique circumstances.
What Are Some Safety Tips for Being a Passenger on a Motorcycle?
A motorcycle passenger can limit their chances of getting hurt in or causing a motorcycle crash by keeping the following tips in mind:
- Wear a helmet and all other necessary protective gear, even when the law doesn’t technically require you to do so.
- Make sure a motorcycle’s operator is qualified to handle a motorcycle safely. It’s also essential to confirm they’re not drunk, tired, or otherwise in a compromised state.
- The motorcycle operator should adjust the shocks to handle the extra weight of a passenger.
- The motorcycle operator should adjust the angles of the mirror and headlight while the passenger is on the motorcycle with them.
- The motorcycle operator should add a few extra pounds of pressure to the tires to accommodate the additional weight of having you as a passenger.
- Wear long riding pants. If your legs come into contact with an exhaust pipe or even just the metal surface of the motorcycle, you could sustain injuries. Your reaction to sudden pain might also put a motorcycle’s operator at risk of losing control of the vehicle.
- Wear a proper motorcycle jacket. A motorcycle jacket can protect your upper body from harm.
- Never engage in any behaviors that could distract a motorcycle’s operator. Additionally, never do anything that could anger or distract the operators of other motor vehicles on the road.
- Tighten your grip on the driver when approaching stop signs or stop lights.
- Keep talking with the driver to a minimum to avoid distracting them from safe motorcycle operation.
- Consider taking a motorcycle safety course if you regularly ride as a motorcycle passenger. Even if you don’t operate a motorcycle, taking such a course could further boost your safety.
Contact a Colorado Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Obeying safety laws can help you avoid harm on a motorcycle. However, compliance with such laws doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll never be hurt on a bike.
Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys from The Wilhite Law Firm are on hand to review your case and explain your legal options if you’ve been injured in a crash that wasn’t your fault. Learn more about what a Colorado motorcycle accident attorney can do for you by contacting us online or calling us today for a free case review.
