Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

I like scooters, but they are the vehicle most likely to be involved in a fatal accident in Europe, yes even more so than than street legal Quads. They have a special, high risk insurance category because of this.

Why?

Because of the group of people that are attracted to this type of transportation. They are seen as cute, safe, cheap, fast, and fun. Many (not all) act like they are on an amusement ride at “Disney” when riding them here.

People don't take themselves, or their safety as serious as they do when riding a motorcycle. They tend to have a attitude of the “rules are made to be broken” when buzzing through the city. Driving in a manner they would never drive in, if they were in their auto.

P.S. I have lost five friends over the years to 4 wheeler vs. motorcycle accidents. In every case it was the auto/truck driver that was blatantly at fault. Manslaughter charges were filed by the City/Prosecuting Attorneys in each case. In the end it doesn't matter, my friends are dead.

My girlfriend was hit, by a hit and run driver on her bicycle, as was my roommate in college, in both of these instances the auto driver was also at fault, both had run a red light. If you are the one splattered on the asphalt, it really doesn't matter.

Whether you are in the right, or in the wrong, a motor vehicle is like a 2 ton loaded weapon and should be treated as such.

 

[mscher]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

As a truck driver, I find that vehicles not designed to safelty drive the posted speed limit, create a potential saftey hazard.

Scooters, like bicycles, fit this category, but generally you can squeeze around them, without too much trouble.

An ATV or similar vehicle would require a full lane change to pass, which creates a saftey issue, on two lane roads.

Keep them off-road, where they belong, IMO.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

As a truck driver, I find that vehicles not designed to safelty drive the posted speed limit, create a potential saftey hazard.

Scooters, like bicycles, fit this category, but generally you can squeeze around them, without too much trouble.

My scooter can do 98-100mph, I don't think it poses a safety hazard for you and your big rig. Suzuki and Honda make bikes capable of 115 and 105, respectively.

Any scooter 250 or greater can do the speed limit on every road in this nation. Maybe the scooters you are referring to are the tiny ones, 50cc and 125. I must assume that based on what you said. Otherwise I would have to say that you are either behind the times or ignorant of the capabilities of modern triple-digit speed scooters.

 

[mscher]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

My scooter can do 98-100mph, I don't think it poses a safety hazard for you and your big rig. Suzuki and Honda make bikes capable of 115 and 105, respectively.

Any scooter 250 or greater can do the speed limit on every road in this nation. Maybe the scooters you are referring to are the tiny ones, 50cc and 125. I must assume that based on what you said. Otherwise I would have to say that you are either behind the times or ignorant of the capabilities of modern triple-digit speed scooters.

I don't really like to consider myself ignorant, but you are welcome to do if you like.

Call it what you like, but a scooter that goes 100MPH is really a motorcycle and is usually licensed as such.

When I mentioned scooters, it would be reasonable to assume the one's that running 30-35MPH in a 55 MPH speed zone. If you are doing 55 on your "scooter" in a 55 MPH zone, why would anyone be concerned?

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

When I was in Norway, they had them legal for road use. License plate and all.

I would assume that 4 wheelers are not legal for on road use because the companies dont want to design them to meet the safety regs, and also because that would expose them to a lot more liability, and drive up the prices.

Its all about the money.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

My scooter can do 98-100mph,

You must be tucked in awful tight to get moving that fast

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

When I was in Norway, they had them legal for road use. License plate and all.

I would assume that 4 wheelers are not legal for on road use because the companies dont want to design them to meet the safety regs, and also because that would expose them to a lot more liability, and drive up the prices.

Its all about the money.

Now THAT sounds like a more likely suspect.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Why are 4 wheelers illegal for street use?

You must be tucked in awful tight to get moving that fast

Nope. Just like a regular motorcycle, it has a windshield so no real reason to tuck in. With 34hp and a ratio of only 12.5lbs/hp with cars having in the area of 20lbs/hp, it's not hard to figure out how a scooter can go 100mph. The Suzuki Burgman 650 can do 115.

Call it what you like, but a scooter that goes 100MPH is really a motorcycle and is usually licensed as such.

When I mentioned scooters, it would be reasonable to assume the one's that running 30-35MPH in a 55 MPH speed zone. If you are doing 55 on your "scooter" in a 55 MPH zone, why would anyone be concerned?

Well then you need to clarify yourself. With scooters hitting triple digit speeds, the word scooter is going to lose it's image as a "moped." My bike is a scooter, it's called a scooter, it's insured as a scooter and by all definitions it is a scooter. There is no such thing as a scooter license so it's automatically in the motorcycle catagory if it's 50cc or more, which means 35mph (roughly) or more. Speeds have nothing to do with it. The definition of scooter really has absolutely nothing to do with top speed. Most motorcyclists wouldn't be caught dead on it because it is a scooter.

As far as the liability, there really is none. If I hurt myself on my Majesty I did it myself. Unless it can be shown that a Yamaha defect had anything to do with it Yamaha is off the hook.

The real problem is getting them DOT approved. They would have to have so many exemptions that it would be unlikely.