Posts
Should we allow NEVs on Monona Drive? On any street in the city? A proposal is before the city council to allow NEVs on any road with a speed limit under 35 mph (all roads except Broadway).
NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) defines NEVs as follows: "Low-speed vehicle means a 4-wheeled motor vehicle, other than a truck, whose speed attainable in 1.6 km (1 mile) is more than 32 kilometers per hour (20 miles per hour) and not more than 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour) on a paved level surface."
NHTSA sets "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" that require the basic safety equipment on your vehicle. NHTSA requires some equipment on NEVs, like turn signals, head lamps, seatbelts, and mirrors, but does not require NEVs to meet crashworthiness standards.
If your life is too short (e.g. you watch golf on TV), you can read the federal regs
NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) defines NEVs as follows: "Low-speed vehicle means a 4-wheeled motor vehicle, other than a truck, whose speed attainable in 1.6 km (1 mile) is more than 32 kilometers per hour (20 miles per hour) and not more than 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour) on a paved level surface."
NHTSA sets "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" that require the basic safety equipment on your vehicle. NHTSA requires some equipment on NEVs, like turn signals, head lamps, seatbelts, and mirrors, but does not require NEVs to meet crashworthiness standards.
If your life is too short (e.g. you watch golf on TV), you can read the federal regs
By the way, the feds have made actually finding specific federal regulations on the Internet (CFR) next to impossible - maybe because the GPO (Government Printing Office) is in charge of putting the CFR on the Web and they like to, you know, print things.
These vehicles should not be in the same lanes as autos, perhaps in the bike lanes. Like bicyclists who use the middle of the road they are a hazard to drivers who wish to be polite but find such cyclists behavior contary to good road rules.
ReplyDeleteThe mix the two is to invite accidents and discourtesy among those who use the roads.
Such vehicles should be restricted to bike lanes or streets with 'slow' lanes where they can be protected.
I LOVE these things! They're perfect for the 35mph and less streets! The only thing that needs to be considered is that they are so quiet that people don't hear them coming. Truly, if/when I get one, I'd put some very pleasant sounding bells on them so they sort of "chime" down the road.
ReplyDelete