According to current NHTSA interpretations and regulations, golf cars and other similar vehicles, as long as they cannot exceed 20 miles per hour, are only subject to state and local safety equipment requirements. However, if these vehicles were originally manufactured to travel at more than 20 miles per hour, they are treated as motor vehicles under federal law. Kentucky`s ORV pilot program, codified by Kentucky Law 189,281, is one of the most ambitious in the country and, if successful, could set the tone for future legislation on UTVs and other legal ORVs on the streets in Kentucky. From June 29, 2021 to July 1, 2024, the Kentucky Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Program will allow UTVs and other off-road vehicles to obtain extended road licenses on approved roads. The pilot program will allow PHEVs to drive on approved roads during the day, with no nationwide speed or distance restrictions, and no helmet requirements for occupants 16 years of age and older. An approved golf cart can operate on roads with a specified speed limit of 35 mph or less. UTVs and other PHEVs participating in the Kentucky ORV pilot program must be insured by the owner or driver. The policy must meet the minimum liability requirements for motorcycle insurance in Kentucky. Proof of insurance must always be carried in the vehicle. The Kentucky DMV defines an off-road vehicle “as any motor vehicle used for off-road recreational use,” including UTVs and side-by-side. These vehicles cannot be registered for road use as normal motor vehicles in Kentucky, and none of the other vehicle categories found in the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Code are conducive to registering a UTV as a roadside approval. Among the possible candidates: West Virginia counties in the Hatfield-McCoy system allow registered ORVs to access retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and ORV dealers on certain roads, and West Virginia only allows PHEVs on two-lane roads. Those that have a center line and more than two lanes are illegal, except for the purpose of crossing this road.
UTVs and ATVs can also travel on the emergency lane of roads to connect paths. All UTVs and ATVs must be equipped with at least one headlight and taillight for better visibility and safety, whether they operate after sunset or not. Only lifeguards are allowed to operate an ORV on a public road, and ATVs can only carry one passenger if the machine is designed for more than one person. As more states seek to attract ORV tourism to boost the local economy, such as West Virginia with its Hatfield-McCoy trail system and Utah with its Paiute trail system, many of these states are adopting more lenient regulations for licensing UTVs and ATVs for limited road use. Other states with agricultural economies treat UTVs and ATVs as agricultural vehicles, but urban areas generally do not allow road use of UTVs and ATVs. Let`s look at the requirements and limitations for the use of UTVs and ATVs on roads in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. We have heard stories of Kentucky enforcing this law, regardless of where the vehicle is registered. Keep this in mind if you`re driving a licensed UTV on the street in Kentucky, especially in ORV areas, as this law also applies to ORVs. Exhaust modifications appear on our list of parts you should omit from your road-legal UTV for this reason. While Tennessee is working to attract VHR tourism dollars like West Virginia, the state has yet to show leniency in operating PHEVs on Tennessee`s arteries.
PHEVs can only be used on two-lane roads and only to cross highways. VWUs and ATVs must be equipped with service and tail lights, and headlights must project light at least 200 feet. Since they can only operate between half an hour after sunrise and half an hour before sunset, lighting requirements are more necessary for the visibility of other vehicles. Wearing a helmet is also mandatory at all times. Tennessee SS 55-8-185 states that PHEVs cannot operate on a state highway or a highway that is part of the Interstate and Defense Highway system. Kentucky`s motorcycle helmet law only applies to vehicles with up to three wheels. It should be noted that ORV occupants who are not permitted to travel on the road are required to wear a helmet during the rare periods when they are permitted on public roads, as described below. For safety reasons, all occupants must wear a helmet on public roads.
All occupants must wear helmets in PHEV areas and similar off-road spaces. Next month, we`ll be introducing the “2019 Budget UTV Buyer`s Guide” with about two dozen UTVs sold for less than $10,000. About half of them are equipped with all the necessary devices to record them on the road in more than 20 states, such as roof, windshield, turn signals, distress indicators, horns, mirrors and LED headlights. And we`ll update state-to-state requirements as more states embark on ORV tourism. Kentucky cities and other local jurisdictions may allow or inhibit ORVs from driving on or on certain roads. State-level registration is not required, but local areas may have their own requirements. Check local resources or call local authorities to find out which roads in your area are open to ORVs. To legally drive your golf cart on public roads, you must obtain a license from your local government and issue it accordingly. You will also need to have your golf cart inspected by a certified inspector designated by the county sheriff and certified by the Department of Vehicle Regulation to ensure that the golf cart meets the requirements of state laws. In Kentucky, UTVs and other off-road vehicles that are not registered as roadworthy can only use roads approved by a local jurisdiction for the use of ORVs.
From 2021 to 2024, the Kentucky ORV pilot program extends these basic rights, as described in the next section. Kentucky Statute 304.39-110 (Pilot Program Insurance Requirements) Ohio also allows limited use of ORVs on country roads, where counties and municipalities allow ORV operations on the road. The Revised Ohio Code 4519.20 sets out requirements for snowmobiles, off-road vehicles and general purpose vehicles that must have at least one service light and one taillight at a distance of 500 feet under normal conditions. PHEVs must be equipped with an effective silencer that limits noise and smoke. Drivers must have a valid driver`s license and persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 18 years old. From 2021 to 2024, Kentucky is conducting an ORV pilot program that will allow qualified off-road vehicles to operate on select public roads. This ambitious legislation brings UTVs allowed to ride on the street in Kentucky via an approved road network designated by local jurisdictions. If 2+ seats: seat belts on each seat that meet federal standards The standard requires low-speed vehicles to be equipped with headlights, brake lights, turn signals, taillights, reflectors, parking brakes, mirrors, windshields, seat belts and vehicle identification numbers. Nationally, there were 136,700 ATV injuries last year. Of these, 30% of injuries involved children under the age of 16. As of June 1, 2007, Kentucky has reached the number of ATV fatalities throughout 2006. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) cannot operate on public roads, roads or rights-of-way on a public road.
(KRS 189.515) An ATV is allowed to cross a 2-lane public road by doing so at an equally convenient and safe 90-degree angle, but not by driving more than 2/10 of a mile on the highway. An ATV can only be used on a 2-lane public road if the driver is engaged in agricultural or agricultural activities, construction, road maintenance or snow removal. These operators must have a valid operator license and comply with all applicable traffic rules. The driver must wear an approved protective head covering at all times when the ATV is used on public land. This head covering requirement is only exempt if the operator engages in agricultural, mining, forestry or commercial activities or uses the vehicle on private property. An ATV cannot be used on private property without the consent of the owner, tenant or person in charge of the property. Is this condition suitable for medium-speed vehicles? Yes. The medium-speed vehicle must be registered and insured as a motor vehicle in accordance with paragraph 186.050(3)(a) of the KRS.
For more information on federal golf cart laws, please click here. The driver of the golf cart must be in possession of a valid driver`s license and may only drive the golf cart between sunrise and sunset. Kentucky is not as accommodating to ORVs across the state as West Virginia or Tennessee. Revised Kentucky Act SS 189.515 allows limited use of ORVs on two-lane public roads where they are designated or to cross highways to connect ORV trails. The operation is limited to daylight hours, except in case of road emergency or snow removal.