It would be nice if cars got more of a bonus to their safety rating based on how they won't pulp other people in an accident.
coughs in bicyclist ...
Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
41–50 of 50 posts
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#42Anyone who thinks that kei trucks shouldn't be on roads and highways and motorcycles should ought to have their head examined. For the record I support both, with the exception of 3 wheel delta configuration motorcycles such as Harley's 3 wheeler. Riding one is a death wish; selling one should be a crime.
What's so bad about these? Without any experience in riding motorcycles I would expect 2 in the back, in the front to be more stable, like riding a trike.
iirc they tip over a lot more easier
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#43I'm waiting to see one with Montana plates, which for those not in the know is generally used as a tax dodge for luxury vehicles. Montana will let non-residents register a vehicle that isn't present in the state under an LLC. Once a plate is issued, the other 49 states have to recognize it. Considering the ridiculous pricing of road legal SxS UTVs it should still be cheaper to go through that process on a kei truck.
They'll probably screw Montana via back room political wrangling like everyone thinks happened with Vermont.
Did the Vermont plating loophole get closed?
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
s/under seige by/on the payroll of/
AFAICT, automatic emergency braking has only been required for all new vehicles in Europe as of 2024, although 2022 for new car models. In the U.S. 90% of new vehicles already include this feature, though it won't be legally mandatory until 2029. The U.S. NHTSA takes a more cooperative approach with industry. Safety features are a critical driver of the model upgrade cycle, so it's in the industry's interest to roll…
I guess the EC doesn't have to worry about the MEPs being able to do much of anything since they don't have much of a say.
Meanwhile, the actual people affected (drivers/pedestrians) don't exactly have much of a say in the US either.
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#45Anyone who thinks that kei trucks shouldn't be on roads and highways and motorcycles should ought to have their head examined. For the record I support both, with the exception of 3 wheel delta configuration motorcycles such as Harley's 3 wheeler. Riding one is a death wish; selling one should be a crime.
What's so bad about these? Without any experience in riding motorcycles I would expect 2 in the back, in the front to be more stable, like riding a trike.
Motorcycles lean to turn at speed, the trikes generally can't and are prone to tipping or flipping.
I've only ever seen them in low speed parades though.
Not sure how the slingshots with two wheels in front and one in back are at speed, i generally only see those at low speeds in cities blasting music instead of trying to get anywhere.
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
The part of your insurance that pays the medical bills for a person you smush (third party liability) is entirely separate from the part that rebuilds your car if it gets wrecked (collision/comprehensive damage). They should be priced separately on your binder, but you can call up your insurer to price compare relatively easily.
Insurance doesn't cover legal expenses and their civil liability is capped pretty low. They'd rather you kill the pedestrian.
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Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
The part of your insurance that pays the medical bills for a person you smush (third party liability) is entirely separate from the part that rebuilds your car if it gets wrecked (collision/comprehensive damage). They should be priced separately on your binder, but you can call up your insurer to price compare relatively easily.
Insurance doesn't cover legal expenses and their civil liability is capped pretty low. They'd rather you kill the pedestrian.
[deleted]
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#48Anyone who thinks that kei trucks shouldn't be on roads and highways and motorcycles should ought to have their head examined. For the record I support both, with the exception of 3 wheel delta configuration motorcycles such as Harley's 3 wheeler. Riding one is a death wish; selling one should be a crime.
What's so bad about these? Without any experience in riding motorcycles I would expect 2 in the back, in the front to be more stable, like riding a trike.
First, the delta configuration is inherently unstable. If the trike gets any kind of side force at speed it becomes very difficult and unnatural to control and recover. In almost all cases when a delta trike loses control at speed it will flip and roll. You may be aware that 3 wheel ATVs have been illegal to sell since the 80's for this same reason.
Also, delta trikes (at least the ones on the market currently) cant lean, so the rider has no control over center of gravity, which is generally pretty disastrous in any kind of emergency control scenario on a motorcycle.
What is particularly egregious is that they are specifically marketed and sold to older people who no longer have the strength or dexterity to control a regular motorcycle. They also usually have a lifetime of muscle memory from 2 wheel bikes that does not apply and often actively hurts their ability to control a trike.
The only way to buy insurance on them is through a specific carrier that is essentially underwritten by Harley Davidson. Death benefits are capped at like $30k.
Tadpole trikes like Can Am makes are fantastically safer, especially since the forward wheels camber and the trike can lean; however the comment about old people who have no business continuing to ride a motorcycle still stands as this is still the market segment they target.
Re: Legal fights over kei trucks in the U.S.
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's so bad about these? Without any experience in riding motorcycles I would expect 2 in the back, in the front to be more stable, like riding a trike.
Motorcycles lean to turn at speed, the trikes generally can't and are prone to tipping or flipping. I've only ever seen them in low speed parades though. Not sure how the slingshots with two wheels in front and one in back are at speed, i generally only see those at low speeds in cities blasting music instead of trying to get anywhere.
CanAm's tadpole trikes have a tilt/camber mechanism on the front wheels and can lean; it's not at all the same thing as a 2 wheeler but it's a light year better than the delta configuration.