Motorcyclists will be fined for not using certified helmets and child restraint seats in private cars, starting when?

reminded that as of December 29, 2025, the use of certified helmets for motorcyclists will be mandatory, as well as child restraint seats for minors traveling in private vehicles. The measure, established in the reforms to the Land Transportation Law approved in December last year, aims to reduce the number of victims in traffic accidents.

The Vice Minister of Transportation, Nelson Reyes, explained that the one-year term prior to the entry into force of these provisions was granted to avoid price increases in the market and to allow users to acquire safety equipment.

"We did not want dealers to take advantage of people. We wanted them to have enough time to be able to acquire them (the helmets), either in the country or abroad," the official said this morning in an interview with Telecorporación Salvadoreña (TCS).

Reyes said that the government is working together with the Salvadoran Technical Regulation Agency (OSARTEC) and the General Directorate of Customs to ensure that imported helmets comply with international certification standards.

"We are working with OSARTEC so that there are technical standards on the helmets that can enter. There are different certifications recognized in the world; American, Brazilian, European and the helmet must have a 'sticker' that certifies it as certified", he detailed.

Regarding child restraint seats, the vice minister clarified that the law does not require a specific certification, but insisted on the responsibility of parents to ensure the safety of minors. "There we are talking about children's lives. It is up to the parents to decide whether they do it just to avoid a fine or to really protect their children," he said.

The vice minister also referred to the operation of the photomulta system implemented by the VMT, which currently operates on the road to the International Airport and on Monseñor Romero Boulevard.

He explained that on the road to the Port of La Libertad the system is already installed, but is not yet operational. "The equipment is ready, but the fines are not being applied yet. We want to do it gradually", he clarified.

CREDIT: CE Noticias Financieras English - CENFENG