Ontario will allow low-speed electric vehicles, with warnings, on public roads
Photo by El Gran Dee. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Ontario, the Canadian province that's thinking of not letting kids onto three-wheeled eco-cars, has made a green car-friendly move by deciding that Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) will soon be allowed on the road. The rules for LSVs will be released later this winter, but we know that the vehicles will need to have specific safety features added. A government report called "Safe Integration of Electric Low Speed Vehicles on Ontario's Roads in Mixed Traffic" (PDF) by that the NRC-CSTT (that's the National Research Council Canada - Centre for Surface Transportation Technology) gives an idea of what those features might be. The group conducted an eight-week study to see just how dangerous LSVs would be on Ontario's roads and proposed making these slow vehicles impossible to miss with slow-moving vehicle emblems on the sides and a "40 km/h max" marking on the back. Daytime running lights and a "Notice of Limitations" document presented to the driver at the time of sale were also proposed. Another possibility would be to add LSV-only lanes (or maybe allowing LSVs in bus-only lanes) in some areas.
Ontario is the home of LSV maker Zenn.
[Source: Ministry of Transportation via EcoModder]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ronEbear 10:58AM (12/08/2008)
What`s the point, no one drives 40 in any city I`ve ever been in. These things need to have a top speed of 60 to be any kind of use. If safety is such a factor, how is it even possible that motorcycles are allowed on the road. This study is useless at best, just treat them ALL as motorcycles and open the floodgates to electric transport.
On a side not I believe safety requirements exist only to line the pockets of insurance companies,.
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Rick 11:27AM (12/08/2008)
I agree. 40 k limitations are a dumb idea. The speed differential with other cars is a safety hazard.
Besides that, 16 year olds ride motorcycles any speed they want and 12 year old cyclists ride wherever they want. Both of these situations are much more dangerous than a 60 k electric vehicle.
Daniel Rheaume 9:55PM (12/08/2008)
Look at this video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSs7pf5uqZY
And you will understand that 40 KM/H is already too much in this kind of vehicule. I would prefer to be on my motorcycle than in those kind of "cars".
Turtle 12:54PM (12/09/2008)
Hey what this city should do is adopt a car sharing service type style of public transportation! Check out www.drivemint.com if you are in the NYC area.. it helps keep your carbon footprint at a minimum! :-D
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