Frequently Asked Questions - Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) - Province-wide pilot on roads with speed limits up to, and including, 50 km/h

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2. What are the timelines?

• All low-speed vehicle pilots will run until December 31, 2014.
• Final recommendations will be made regarding if, and how, these vehicles should be allowed to interact with mixed-vehicle traffic prior to the expiry of the pilot.

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3. What are the operating conditions of this pilot?

• During the pilot, the following conditions must be met:
  • Operators must have a valid A, B, C, D, E, F or G driver's licence and insurance coverage;
  • LSV must have a Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) compliance label (ONT-LSV-5CMVSS) from a manufacturer registered with Transport Canada, and must be manufactured as an LSV;
  • LSV must be registered and plated as a passenger vehicle; 
  • Slow-moving vehicle sign required;
  • Operators to provide a signed “Declaration Form” prior to vehicle registration that states acknowledgement of LSV pilot and the vehicle's safety limitations;
  • All Highway Traffic Act (HTA) rules of the road and speed limits apply to LSVs and their drivers;
  • LSVs to have an interior warning label visible to occupants at all times;
  • LSVs not to be driven faster than 40 km/h;
  • A traffic control device to be present before low-speed vehicles can directly cross a higher-speed road of up to 80 km/h;
  • LSVs cannot be used for MTO road tests;
  • No passengers under age 8;
  • No towing;
  • No modifications to increase maximum speed;
  • Municipalities may not pass by-laws to prohibit or to alter the operating conditions of LSVs on roads within their jurisdiction.

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4. Do LSVs have to meet all 40 federally mandated safety standards for passenger cars before they are allowed on public roads?

• No, but low-speed vehicles are required to meet specific additional equipment requirements and a few additional federal safety standards.
• Ontario will require the same vehicle features as in the 2008 Transports Quebec LSV pilot project.  LSVs are required to have doors, defog/defrost and heating systems, 3-point seat belts, slow-moving vehicle sign, and a proximity warning sign that emits intermittent noise when the vehicle is near pedestrians/bicyclists.
• LSVs will have to meet certain HTA requirements such as service brakes, high and low-beam headlamps, windshield wiper, odometer, safety glass where glass is used, horn and federally compliant tires.
• Five additional federal vehicle safety standards must also be met for occupant protection, driver impact protection, occupant restraint systems in frontal impacts, seat belt assembly anchorages and side door strength.

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5. Where can I get an LSV that is eligible for the pilot?

• To assist in the identification of companies that manufacture or import vehicles that conform with the limited requirements for low-speed vehicles in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, Transport Canada has compiled a list of those companies that have registered with their department and can be found on their website at:
  http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/vmrtc/menu.htm

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6. How do I register my LSV?

• Firstly, check the list of manufacturers registered with Transport Canada to see where the LSV manufacturer/retailer is located and what types of LSVs they sell.  Since LSVs are allowed on 50 km/h roads only, you will need to plan a way to get your LSV home.  A list of LSV manufacturers that are registered with Transport Canada can be found on their website at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/vmrtc/menu.htm

• Secondly, you should contact the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the LSV manufacturer/importer has submitted the appropriate paperwork indicating compliance with Ontario's requirements to meet five additional Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for occupant protection.
• Thirdly, we recommend that you call your insurance company before you buy an LSV to see what insurance coverage they provide for LSVs and how much it will cost.
• Once that is all done, an LSV will be registered in exactly the same way that a passenger car is today, with one exception.  The only difference in the procedure to register an LSV will be that the registrant must provide a signed Declaration Form, provided to the purchaser by the seller prior to purchase, that states their acknowledgement of the LSV pilot, its operating requirements and that LSVs aren't required to have all the safety features of a passenger car.
• If you are registering a new LSV yourself, you will need to provide a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office with an Application for Vehicle Registration Form, a New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) form, the original bill of sale and a signed Declaration Form.
• If the manufacturer is registering your new LSV for you, the manufacturer would require that you fill out an Application for Vehicle Registration Form, a New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) form and a signed Declaration Form.
• LSVs are required to have insurance, vehicle permits and licence plates.

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7. Will there be some type of identification on the vehicle to let people and police know it is an LSV and not a modified golf cart?

• Low-speed vehicles will be unable to travel faster than 40 km/h and are required to display a slow-moving vehicle sign. 
• LSVs will be required to have an interior warning label visible to occupants that states the safety and operating limitations of LSVs.
• The federal compliance label for LSVs, typically located on the inner door edge of the driver side, will state the vehicle type as LSV and will be required, under the pilot regulation, to also indicate LSV compliance with five additional CMVSS requirements (denoted as ON-LSV-5CMVSS).

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8. 40 km/h is slow. Can I modify my LSV to make it go faster?

• No.  Vehicle modifications that increase an LSV's speed are prohibited.
• Under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), any person who commits an act while operating an LSV contrary to any of the LSV pilot's regulations is guilty of an offence, and upon conviction, is liable to a minimum fine of $250 and maximum fine of $2,500.

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9. Can I sell/buy a used LSV?

• Yes.  As with registering a used passenger car, a safety certificate will be required.  You will also be required to provide a signed Declaration Form that states acknowledgement of the LSV pilot and the vehicle's safety limitations.
• A safety certificate can only be obtained from a registered Motor Vehicle Inspection Station if the LSV passes all necessary safety inspections.  A copy of the Declaration Form is available at a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office or it can be downloaded from the Ministry's website at: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/index.shtml#low
• Under the pilot, an LSV must have a warning label that is affixed by the manufacturer in a location plainly visible to the driver and to any passenger seated next to the driver that states:
• This LSV cannot attain a speed higher than 40 km/h;
• This LSV is not equipped with the safety features customarily found in passenger cars and LSV owners and drivers are advised to confirm the vehicle's safety features, if any, with the manufacturer;
• The operation of this LSV may be prohibited or restricted to certain areas and may be subject to other operating requirements imposed by law; and
• Since an LSV emits little or no noise, LSV owners and drivers are advised that other road users may not be alerted to the presence of the vehicle.
• A person cannot sell an LSV for use on public roads, nor pass a safety inspection, unless the LSV has a warning label in the vehicle and a federal compliance label that indicates the LSV meets the additional five CMVSS  required by the LSV pilot regulation to operate on Ontario roads.

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10. Can I buy a LSV from the U.S., or another Canadian province and register it in Ontario?

• An LSV can be used in Ontario as long as it meets the definition of a low-speed vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and bears an LSV compliance label that is affixed by the manufacturer in compliance with federal requirements.
• To be eligible for the amended pilot, LSVs must be manufactured and/or imported by companies registered with Transport Canada as a manufacturer/importer of LSVs.
• In addition to the federal requirements, LSVs – both from home and abroad --- will have to comply, and provide evidence of compliance to MTO, with additional provincial requirements such as meeting the five additional CMVSS.
• The LSV must be operated as per the rules and regulations of the pilot.

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11. How can I get information on the safety limitations of LSVs before I purchase one?

• Eligible LSV manufacturers/importers, registered with Transport Canada, will be made aware of the registration requirements for their customers, and will be provided with copies of the Declaration Form to provide to their customers prior to purchase.
• Eligible LSVs are required to have a warning label plainly visible to occupants informing the prospective purchaser of its safety limitations.
• Both Transport Canada and the Ministry have communicated their views on the safety of LSVs on their respective websites.

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12. Can I get road-tested in an LSV?

• No.  You will not be able to use an LSV for your road test.

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13. In this pilot, will LSVs be treated as a slow-moving vehicle?

• Yes.  Low-speed vehicles are slow-moving vehicles and must conform to the rules of the road for slow-moving vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).
• Low-speed vehicles must have a slow-moving vehicle sign affixed in accordance with the regulations.

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14. Where can I buy a slow-moving vehicle sign?

• You can purchase a slow-moving vehicle sign at several retail outlets, typically those that sell hardware.

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15. I heard that B.C. and Quebec require signs on their roadways saying LSVs are allowed. Why isn't Ontario going with signs, too?

• Requiring LSV signs on roadways is only a guideline in B.C. and Quebec (except that, in Quebec, it is a requirement to have a sign on roads with slopes exceeding a specified angle).  It is not a requirement to display signs on roadways.
• Various stakeholders were consulted and this issue was not raised as a concern.

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16. Why are LSVs being restricted to roads with speeds of 50 km/h or less?

• By definition, low-speed vehicles (LSVs) cannot attain speeds greater than 40 km/h.  Therefore, allowing them on higher-speed roads could potentially increase the safety risk to LSV drivers and other road users created by the speed differentials.
• This approach is consistent with permitted use in B.C. and Quebec.
• Also, by limiting to 50 km/h roads, the extended pilot would:
• Permit the evaluation of the operation of electric low-speed vehicles (LSVs) in mixed traffic on low-speed roads of 50 km/h or less across the province.
• Help determine the safety impacts of allowing LSVs to be driven in a non-enclosed environment and to observe how they integrate with other road users in actual road settings.
• Determine where low-speed vehicles are best suited – and safest -- to travel in future. 

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17. What should I do when reaching an intersecting road with a speed limit higher than 50 km/h? Do I have to make a U-turn and go back?

• The pilot allows LSVs to drive directly across an intersecting road with a speed limit greater than 50 km/h but not more than 80 km/h.  However, this is only permitted if it occurs at an intersection with a traffic control signal or stop signs that control traffic in all directions.
• Operators are advised to become familiar with the posted speed limits in their areas before purchasing an LSV.

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18. Does my LSV require branding?

• An LSV cannot enter the branding program.  It will be branded as “Irreparable”, the same as motorcycles and limited-speed motorcycles.

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19. Will my vehicle require an emissions test?

• No.  Because these vehicles are electric, they will be exempt from emission testing.

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LSV Safety Concerns

20. What about safety requirements?

• Under this pilot, safety equipment requirements for low-speed vehicles are based on the federal standards set out by Transport Canada, recommendations of a report by the National Research Council (NRC), existing requirements under the Transports Quebec LSV pilot, and motor vehicle equipment requirements under the HTA.
• To be eligible for the pilot, LSVs must be manufactured and/or imported by companies registered with Transport Canada as manufacturers/importers of LSVs and they must provide proof of compliance with the additional five CMVSS required under the pilot.  These must be submitted to MTO.
• The Ontario LSV pilot requires the same additional equipment as required by Transports Quebec --- doors, defog/defrost and heating systems, 3-point seat belts, slow-moving vehicle sign, and proximity warning device that emits intermittent noise when the vehicle is near a pedestrian or bicyclist.
• LSVs must also meet most of the same HTA requirements and provisions for motor vehicles: 
• Service brakes, high and low-beam headlamps, lamps that are visible for 150 metres; light for the number plate; horn; safety glass wherever glass is used; windshield wiper; mudguards; odometer; rubber tires (tires must be DOT approved); a right side mirror if driver does not have clear view through a rear window; and a slow-moving vehicle sign.  Additionally, an LSV cannot be sold unless it complies with the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
• Finally, your LSV will have to meet five additional federal CMVSS, for:
• Occupant protection;
• Driver impact protection
• Occupant restraint systems in frontal impacts;
• Seat belt assembly anchorages; and
• Side door strength.
• This is a cautious and responsible approach to LSV vehicle safety standards that may benefit manufacturers and, potentially, the people who travel in an LSV.

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21. What is the Ministry of Transportation doing to ensure the safety of those who operate low-speed vehicles?

• The regulation allowing the use of low-speed vehicles requires that operators have a valid driver's licence.  This ensures that all operators are familiar with the rules of the road and have demonstrated their driving ability.
• The rationale for restricting these vehicles to low-speed roads is to limit the potential road safety risks of these vehicles while they operate in mixed traffic. 
• Because LSVs don't have many of the safety features of a regular passenger vehicle, we have also proposed other safety requirements such as:  no children under the age of 8 (the age at which a child can move from a booster seat to an adult seat belt); no towing of other vehicles; a slow-moving vehicle sign; and, crossing higher speed roads only where there is a traffic control device such as traffic signals or a four-way stop.
• The regulation will require that a warning label is affixed by the manufacturer on the vehicle in a location that is visible to the driver, which sets out performance and safety warnings including, but not limited to:
  • This LSV cannot attain a speed higher than 40 km/h;
  • This LSV is not equipped with the safety features customarily found in passenger cars and LSV owners/drivers are advised to confirm the vehicle's safety features, if any, with the manufacturer;
  • The operation of this LSV may be prohibited or restricted to certain areas and may be subject to other operating requirements imposed by law; and
  • This LSV emits little or no noise and LSV owners and drivers are advised that other road users may not be alerted to the presence of the vehicle.

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22. Some LSVs already have doors and windows. Is it accurate to say that these doors and windows do not meet the performance standards (structural integrity) required of passenger vehicles?

• Federally, LSVs are required to have a windshield of laminated safety glass, the same as a passenger car.  But LSVs are not required to have doors.  Current LSVs may already be equipped with doors and windows but they are not required federally to meet the federal passenger car requirements for windows and doors, which include: the windshield must stay in place during a crash; passenger cars must have a windshield wiper and washer system and windshield defrosting, safety glass for other windows (door, rear, etc.); door locks and door retention; and side door strength
• Under the new pilot, LSVs are required to have doors and a windshield wiper and, if being driven on public roads, LSVs are required to have a defog/defrost system and meet five additional CMVSS for occupant protection (including side door strength) and follow the prescribed operating requirements.

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23. I heard LSVs are not required to have brakes.  How are LSVs supposed to stop?

• Under the amended LSV pilot, LSVs that operate on public roads will be required to have service brakes.
• The federal standards for LSVs do not require service brakes but do include a requirement for parking brakes.  Although no reasonable manufacturer would produce a vehicle without brakes, there are no standards for brakes on LSVs, and the performance of the brakes could vary considerably.  Golf carts are an example of a vehicle type with lower brake standards -- most only have rear brakes. 

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24. If low-speed vehicles meet federal vehicle safety standards for LSVs and most vehicle requirements contained in Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA), why are there still concerns as to their safety on Ontario roads in mixed traffic and the need for additional equipment requirements?

• HTA and regulatory equipment requirements (e.g., service brakes, high and low beam headlamps, horn, any glass used must be safety glass, windshield wiper, odometer, tire requirements, etc.) are not intended to deal comprehensively with occupant protection performance.
• To a large extent, the HTA and its regulations have, as their primary focus, the proper repair and maintenance of vehicles. The regulations presuppose a vehicle designed and manufactured to federal standards as a means of providing a reasonable level of safety for operation on all highways and in mixed traffic.
• There are 40 federal safety standards that apply to passenger cars but only three for LSVs.  The federal safety standards for LSVs were developed with the intent of LSVs operating on low-speed roads with controlled access so that LSVs would have limited exposure to larger, higher-speed vehicles.
• In the case of LSVs, only a minimal number of basic standards apply and none of the passenger vehicle occupant protection standards or those standards that involve crash testing apply. 

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25. I have heard that these vehicles do not offer much protection to operators and passengers in the event of a collision. If this is true, why is the Ministry of Transportation allowing them to be used at all?

• The Ministry of Transportation remains consistent with Transport Canada's position by restricting the vehicles to low-speed environments.  LSVs will only be permitted on any road, up to a maximum posted speed limit of 50 km/h.  To mitigate some of the risks associated with LSVs being used on roads with larger and faster vehicles, LSV manufacturers are required to meet additional prescribed equipment requirements and federal safety standards that will better protect LSV occupants.

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26. Why do you allow bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds, motor scooters, etc., if you are so concerned about LSV safety?

• Our goal for the introduction of any new vehicle type should not be to match the safety of the poorest performing vehicles but rather to match or exceed the safety of higher performing vehicles, such as passenger cars. 
• When motorists see a bicycle or rickshaw, they recognize that it accords the occupants little structural protection and, therefore, they are most likely to give the bike or rickshaw a wide berth. Unlike bicycles or rickshaws, LSVs do not have that visual vulnerability cue for other motorists to recognize.

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