Malorie Bullock, a young college student, lost her life during a motorcycle accident in 2010 while riding as a passenger despite wearing a helmet, she was thrown from the bike when it swerved to avoid another car.
As a response to this tragic event, the state of Texas implemented Malorie’s Law (HB 3838) in January 2015. The law now requires that all motorcycles carrying more than one person must have footrests and handholds for passengers. A handhold can be a leather strap, a luggage rack, or another fixed grip. This applies not only to child passengers, but to all passengers. The idea behind this law is to make riding safer for all riders and passengers.
Texas is one of only a handful of states that have imposed a minimum age on motorcycle riders. In the state, no child under the age of five is allowed to ride as a passenger. However, a child under the age of five can ride in a sidecar at any time or as a regular passenger in an emergency situation.
Additionally, a child aged 5 or over must be sitting on a permanently fixed seat or otherwise firmly attached seat. And any rider under the age of 21 is required to wear a motorcycle helmet at all times. - Greg Herrman, Top Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorney