Low-Speed Vehicles: Earth-Friendly But Dangerous Says One Group
May 20th, 10An insurance industry road safety group wants low-speed vehicles restricted from more roads. They’re calling these cars “souped-up golf carts” sand say they’re not safe, according to USA Today. Even the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety agrees that these cars don’t stand up in crashes against larger, faster vehicles. “These vehicles are fuel-efficient and cheap to own but aren’t built to protect people in crashes,” the IIHS reports, according to USA Today. “New institute crash tests show the deadly consequences of mixing these vehicles with regular traffic.”
In the past these low-speed vehicles were used in retirement communities or golf course areas. They’re electric and for that reason have gained popularity because they’re more green than gas-powered cars. Right now these vehicles are allowed on public roads in 46 states, but are typically restricted to roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less.
There are 45,000 of these vehicles on US roads, according to 2008 data. These vehicles do have some requirements, which were established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These standards include head, tail and break lights, turn signals, reflectors, parking breaks, rear view mirrors, windshields and seat belts. They’re not required to have air bags, however.
Chrysler, which owns GEM, the world’s largest producer of low-speed vehicles says the cars are safe as long as they are on the roads they are intended for. “GEM vehicles offer customers an inexpensive, clean solution for low-speed environments and comply with (the NHTSA’s) standards for low-speed vehicles, which limit the maximum speed of the vehicle to 25 mph,” said Chrysler officials in a USA Today report. “It’s a grave generalization to say that all LSVs are simply souped-up golf carts,” says Mike McQuary, CEO of Atlanta-based Wheego Electric Cars, which manufactures the Whip LSV, according to USA Today.
Tags: Electric vehicles, Auto Insurance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Electric car, Low-speed vehicles, Green vehicles