The state of Alabama requires an LSV to have a 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), as you`ll find in every car, and for LSVs to have a manufacturer`s certificate of origin. The declaration of origin must certify that the LSV complies with state safety regulations or Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Requirements for light commercial vehicles that must be certified for on-road use include approval of windshields, seat belts, mirrors, four-wheel brakes, headlights, taillights and directional signals approved by the Department of Transportation. Low-speed vehicles can be driven on designated roads in Alabama as long as the driver meets certain requirements. Did you know that even though golf cart batteries work in the same way as a car, their maintenance, requirements and standards are different? Research shows that manipulating car batteries to fit a golf cart is not a wise choice. The VSL must meet the following requirements to be considered a road user permit holder. It must have: If the driver does not want to be fined up to $700, he should stay off the road with the golf cart and buy an LSV instead. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) According to the laws established by many Alabama cities, carts are defined in different ways. The city further explained that cars can only be used between sunrise and sunset and that headlights must be turned on at all times, regardless of the light intensity present during operation. Other extensions of these rules stipulated that no one under the age of 18 and without a driver`s license was allowed to drive a golf cart on a public road. www.gulfshoresal.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/2976?fileID=3968 Although golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs) look the same, they are different.
Unmodified golf carts can reach speeds of 15 to 20 MPH, while low-speed vehicles can reach speeds of 20 to 25 MPH. In addition, low-speed vehicles have safety features that golf carts do not have. Terry Benbow of Monroeville Golf Cart and Trailer Sales in Monroeville says that in Alabama, comparing legal LSVs for the road to golf carts is like comparing oranges to tangerines. “Legal LSVs look like golf carts and have the characteristics of golf carts – you can even take them on the course – but that`s where the similarity ends.” According to Benbow, LSVs in Alabama are all electric. Under state law, low-speed vehicles can only be driven on public roads with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less. Whether the driver is allowed to cross the highway depends on the city in which he lives, as the order varies from city to city. Regardless of where the driver resides, low-speed vehicles can only be driven in daylight. However, these regulations do not regulate the use of carts on private land, although in these circumstances, roads on or near golf courses are considered public roads. Persons on board LSV must comply with traffic rules. If a driver tries to get more people in a car than they have a seat belt, they can be sued by municipal or state authorities. The rules of the road for low-speed vehicles are the same as for cars.
It is illegal for the driver to drink and drive his LSV. It is also illegal to drive a vehicle at low speed under the influence of alcohol. If a person is caught driving their vehicle against drunk driving, they are arrested and charged with drunk driving. An exemption is granted to persons involved in the exercise of an approved business activity related to Mardi Gras, such as: a seller. According to Robyn Litchfield, an information specialist with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, low-speed vehicles (LSVs) are allowed to travel on public roads if they comply with federal and state safety and emissions regulations, as well as state anti-theft regulations. The State of Alabama does not allow golf carts that are not approved for use on public roads. Cars may also not overtake and overtake in the same lane as an overtaken vehicle and may not travel between lanes or rows of drivers. The driver must not only have a valid driver`s license, but also have the LSV registered with the DMV.
In order to legally register an LSV, the driver must take out liability insurance. When the owner drives his LSV, he must always have his driver`s license, registration and proof of insurance with him. If a driver is caught on a public road without the necessary documents, he will be fined. If a minor and unlicensed driver is involved in an accident while driving the LSV, his parents will be held responsible for the damage they cause. Since a child is not registered as an authorized operator in the owner`s liability insurance, parents should bear the cost of the damage out of their own pockets. Anyone who wants to consider driving a golf cart on a road needs to understand these improvements. Golf carts are only legal if they are driven on a golf course or private property. Jan Stowell began his career as a writer after retiring from the Syracuse Fire Department in 1995. He has written on a variety of topics, including college basketball, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and bungee jumping in South Africa. Stowell`s work has been published in national and international newspapers, including in his hometown, the Syracuse Post-Standard, the Washington Post, and Cape Town`s leading newspaper, the Cape Times. Cars must also yield the right of way to each vehicle when it is on the road.
These strict traffic rules help to protect not only the driver of the wagon, but also the drivers of more traditional vehicles. Keeping standard golf carts off the road helps protect drivers from injury and avoids other problems that can result. Like all states in the country, Alabama has a variety of regulations that govern when golf carts can be driven on public roads and on which roads they can drive. Because golf carts don`t have the safety features to be approved for the road, they can`t be driven on public roads in Alabama. It is also illegal to drive golf carts on sidewalks. If a person is caught on a road in Alabama in a golf cart that has not been modified to include the necessary safety features, and if it is not registered, the driver can be fined up to $700. Golf cart owners who want to take their car on public roads should follow these rules to make sure they don`t get into legal trouble. First of all, the LSV must have all the necessary safety features and be in good condition.
In addition, the driver must be a driver with a driver`s license who is at least 16 years old. If a minor child or unlicensed driver is caught driving a light commercial vehicle on the road, the owner will be fined. As mentioned earlier, they need headlights, reflectors, seat belts, and other design changes to make them powerful enough to be considered low-speed vehicles.