Fed Regulations for 3-wheeled vehicles

[Trbayth]

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2015...tocycle-rules/

Because what could go wrong with more Fed regulations?

[wyliec]

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2015...tocycle-rules/

Because what could go wrong with more Fed regulations?

That article relates to enclosed 3 wheeled vehicles, not all 3 wheeled vehicles.

[den1953]

The word enclosed is key here as it will establish a line of demarcation between 3 wheel motorcycles and 3 wheel automobiles. This will apply to licensing, safety regulations, fuel economy standards and insurance. Basically it will eliminate many gray areas that current & past 3 wheel vehicles once had and used to slip through past regulations.

[Dan McNally]

It is just the law, catching up with reality . . . things change, technology changes, and the law must, too . . .

[jerpinoy]

Every states can set their own rules and regulations.

[Dan McNally]

Every states can set their own rules and regulations.

In some ways, that is part of the problem . . . some states have laws in effect that preclude people from registering vehicles like the Slingshot or an Elio because they don't meet certain motorcycle requirements, but because they are three-wheeled, are considered as such.

[Bob Denman]

So I guess that the Reliant Robin won't be making a comeback??

[Dragonrider]

Half the cost of current new cars is directly related to mandated safety requirements, and 16% of the balance to meeting fuel economy and emissions regulations. Goodbye $20K Slingshot and (vaporware) $7K Elio.

[Chupaca]

have always said they need to reclassify the three wheelers. Leave the trikes/reverse trikes where they are the motorcycle with or without side cars where they should be and the rest can go to the "autocycle" calss. Love how the article finds this proposal for classification will create more jobs and how it will lead to less congestion. Ever seen those european and asian cities overrun with scooters bicycles and motorcycles..?? This is America, everything has to be bigger and the autocycles are already growing in size. The slingshot is only a couple of feet lower than my VW sportswagon but the reclassification is the way to go...

[jcthorne]

My personal opinion is that 3 wheel motorcycles that you ride ON should stick with the motorcycle regulations, both for equipment and licensing.

3 Wheeled cars that you ride IN should have to meet the same regulations as all other cars. If not, you will simply see GM sell a next gen Cobalt with one rear wheel to skate through the same loophole..... Do we really want a fleet of CARs on the road with next to no safety equipment and drivers only trained to automobile licence standards? I vote no.

[Bob Denman]

3 Wheeled cars that you ride IN should have to meet the same regulations as all other cars. If not, you will simply see GM sell a next gen Cobalt with one rear wheel to skate through the same loophole..... Do we really want a fleet of CARs on the road with next to no safety equipment?

Isn't that what we all learned to drive in?


EDIT: Just for fun; here's an impact study showing how much things have improved over the years...

[Deer Slayer]

This does require watching! The Federal government will always screw it up.

[Dragonrider]

I vote yes.

[ARtraveler]

I also vote yes for forcing those companies that are going to do "enclosed" three wheel vehicles to comply with safety regulations.

In the event that Elio does hit the streets, I believe they are going to be a "death trap" of sorts when you consider safety issues. I don't think people will have a very good survival chance in the event of anything worse than a low speed fender bender.

[bruiser]

Like this?

https://youtu.be/9iKGfo1wmOM

[ARtraveler]

Like this?

https://youtu.be/9iKGfo1wmOM

That is a big wake up call. I am guessing the Elio is even more flimsy since it costs about half the smart car. I am not going to find out.

[latony007]

Im in favor of them making safety standards but thats about it. If you give any corp the chance to make more money and compromise safety they usually will. But the feds usually screw up anything they touch and try to overreach and make it pointless to even have states, they have been doing that since the days of Adams and Jefferson to the point now they control way too much. We should be paying the states 25% and the feds 5 or 10% in taxes not the other way around, but i digress

The one thing that strikes me looking at these ugly little vehicles is you are no more protected in those things that you are a spyder. Hell the Toyota thing looks like it would be crushed into a ball if you ran into it with a bicycle.

[scarecrow]

And just where does the three wheel Morgan fall in place?

[ARtraveler]

One part that I have not seen mentioned is the fact that there is an inherent danger in riding either a two-wheeled version or a three-wheeled version conveyance (as in motorcycle). They do not have many built in crash safety features. It is pretty much a given that in a crash, the motorcyclist is going to be ejected, and that is where the danger lies. Most of us know this and try to drive accordingly.

When one straps into the seat belt of a car, they expect to have a better chance than if they were on a motorcycle. My current other vehicle was a top safety pick for 2014.

Another car not shown was the 1950's BMW Isetta. There was no front end except for the passenger door with the steering wheel attached. And of course the VW microbus. I had two of them.