Golf Cars and Other Low Speed Vehicles Pose Safety Concerns
As more states statutorily authorize golf cars to operate on public roads, their occupants are exposed to increased risks of serious injuries and death when they collide with larger and faster motor vehicles. Under longstanding agency interpretations, these vehicles are considered to be motor vehicles and are subject to the same Federal safety standards as passenger cars.
Compact
At the time of the NPRM, golf cars and other small 4-wheeled passenger vehicles, with top speeds not exceeding 20 miles per hour, were in limited production. NHTSA did not have sufficient on-road crash and injury data to support a determination that they pose a safety need.
A few golf cars are in use on public streets in Sun City and other communities where traffic speeds are low, but these vehicles have been involved in only four fatal crashes. NHTSA also noted that the faster, more car-like vehicles being marketed in Japan (kei cars) and France (Tricycles et Quadricycles a Moteur or TQM voiturettes) can travel up to twice as fast as golf cars and operate in significantly different operating environments.
Rather than attempt to apply the full range of existing FMVSSs to these vehicles, NHTSA proposed to establish a new class of vehicle called LSVs that would be exempt from those requirements. This final rule defines this class as vehicles that are designed and manufactured to have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.
NHTSA received several comments from the motor industry, consumer groups, and other interested parties that reflected concerns with specific aspects of the final rule. For example, the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute argued that polycarbonate windshields should be required for LSVs and that performance standards should be specified (018). CFA and Advocates for Children & Families thought that the final rule did not adequately address the need for appropriate and adequate safety standards for these vehicles (040). The agency decided that it was important to allow states to adopt additional requirements as they see fit, in order to help promote the safe operation of the new class of vehicles.
Efficient
LSVs are efficient for the many tasks they perform: bringing goods and chinese electric car company services to residents of retirement communities, transporting tourists around shore towns, shuttling people to work or school, and moving students and employees between campuses. They also make good business sense because they can move a lot of people at once, while still remaining affordable. GEM offers models to accommodate 2, 4 or 6 passengers at a time, making them perfect for shuttle service in neighborhoods and senior communities, transporting visitors around resorts, and shuttling people in urban centers.
Under longstanding agency interpretations, vehicles used on public roads that can travel at speeds greater than 15 miles per hour are regarded as motor vehicles within the meaning of the Vehicle Safety Act and are subject to the same Federal safety requirements designed to meet the needs of passenger cars. Golf cars have not been in use on the highways for very long, however, and NHTSA expects that the numbers of on-road deaths and serious injuries involving golf car occupants will grow as these vehicles become increasingly available for commercial operation.
NHTSA considered a number of options to address this need for Federal action. One was to adopt a Federal standard based on a regulation that the City of Palm Desert had established for golf cars being used on its streets. The proposal was reasonable and appropriate, as it appeared that the equipment required could be easily incorporated into golf cars from their design start and would reduce the likelihood of accidents due to operator ejection.
Accessible
In most communities, LSVs can travel on a variety of roadways as long as they follow the posted speed limits. The lower maximum speeds of these vehicles allow them to use more roadway space than conventional cars and help protect vulnerable road users and pedestrians.
The lower operating speed of an electric LSV can be a benefit for the environment, as it can reduce air pollution. Additionally, the low operating noise level of these vehicles makes them well-suited for environments that are sensitive to noise.
While a low speed vehicle can be used to navigate a variety of roadways, they are often better suited for protected low-speed environments like neighborhood streets, college campuses, parks, and other community areas. This versatility, combined with their cost-effectiveness and efficiency, make them an ideal alternative to car ownership for many individuals.
These vehicles are also popular for snow removal, with some models equipped for snow plowing to provide a convenient and affordable way to clear roadways in areas prone to winter weather. The design and registration laws for these four-wheeled vehicles vary from state to state, so it’s important to check with knowledgeable local authorities to ensure you are 100% legal to operate your vehicle in the area where you plan to use it. NMEDA dealers can guide you through the process.
Safe
Despite the lack of fatal or serious injuries to golf car occupants on-road, NHTSA is concerned that these vehicles could become more common as local governments permit their use on certain public roads. In addition, as the market for golf cars reaches beyond the purely private and fleet markets, manufacturers will be tempted to produce speed-modified versions that increase their vehicle’s maximum on-road speeds. The increased speed will result in higher crash forces in single and multiple vehicle crashes, which may increase the likelihood of serious or fatal low speed vehicles injury to their occupants. The increased speed will also enable golf cars to pass through risky driving situations more quickly, which could lead drivers to take greater risks.
NHTSA’s proposal for LSVs establishes new Federal safety requirements that require manufacturers to equip these vehicles with seat belts, a rearview mirror, parking brake, and either an AS-1 or AS-5 plastic windshield. The agency’s proposed requirements also provide that golf cars that qualify as LSVs must have their occupants wear seat belts, which reduce the probability of ejection from open vehicles during abrupt maneuvers and in crashes.
WLF and Advocates argued that NHTSA did not have sufficient on-road crash data on golf cars to justify the proposed regulation. They also argued that increased pressure for inexpensive transportation and claims of environmental benefit would ultimately lead to the design and marketing of golf cars that are increasingly car-like and therefore more likely to cause injury to their occupants.