WAIS Document Retrieval[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 5, Parts 400 to 999]

[Revised as of October 1, 1999]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR571.500]

[Page 691-693]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER V--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC

SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT

OF TRANSPORTATION

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents

Subpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Sec. 571.500 Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles.

S1. Scope. This standard specifies requirements for low-speed

vehicles.

S2. Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that low-

speed vehicles operated on the public streets, roads, and highways are

equipped with

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the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle

safety.

S3. Applicability. This standard applies to low-speed vehicles.

S4. [Reserved.]

S5. Requirements.

(a) When tested in accordance with test conditions in S6 and test

procedures in S7, the maximum speed attainable in 1.6 km (1 mile) by

each low-speed vehicle shall not more than 40 kilometers per hour (25

miles per hour).

(b) Each low-speed vehicle shall be equipped with:

(1) Headlamps,

(2) Front and rear turn signal lamps,

(3) Taillamps,

(4) Stop lamps,

(5) Reflex reflectors: one red on each side as far to the rear as

practicable, and one red on the rear,

(6) An exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle

and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the

vehicle or an interior mirror,

(7) A parking brake,

(8) A windshield of AS-1 or AS-5 composition, that conforms to the

American National Standard Institute's ``Safety Code for Safety Glazing

Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways,'' Z-

26.1-1977, January 28, 1977, as supplemented by Z26.1a, July 3, 1980

(incorporated by reference; see 49 CFR 571.5),

(9) A VIN that conforms to the requirements of part 565 Vehicle

Identification Number of this chapter, and

(10) A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to Sec.

571.209 of this part, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209,

Seat belt assemblies, installed at each designated seating position.

S6. General test conditions. Each vehicle must meet the performance

limit specified in S5(a) under the following test conditions.

S6.1. Ambient conditions.

S6.1.1. Ambient temperature. The ambient temperature is any

temperature between 0 deg.C (32 deg.F) and 40 deg.C (104 deg.F).

S6.1.2. Wind speed. The wind speed is not greater than 5 m/s (11.2

mph).

S6.2. Road test surface.

S6.2.1. Pavement friction. Unless otherwise specified, the road test

surface produces a peak friction coefficient (PFC) of 0.9 when measured

using a standard reference test tire that meets the specifications of

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1136, ``Standard

Specification for A Radial Standard Reference Test Tire,'' in accordance

with ASTM Method E 1337-90, ``Standard Test Method for Determining

Longitudinal Peak Braking Coefficient of Paved Surfaces Using a Standard

Reference Test Tire,'' at a speed of 64.4 km/h (40.0 mph), without water

delivery (incorporated by reference; see 49 CFR 571.5).

S6.2.2. Gradient. The test surface has not more than a 1 percent

gradient in the direction of testing and not more than a 2 percent

gradient perpendicular to the direction of testing.

S6.2.3. Lane width. The lane width is not less than 3.5 m (11.5 ft).

S6.3. Vehicle conditions.

S6.3.1. The test weight for maximum speed is unloaded vehicle weight

plus a mass of 78 kg (170 pounds), including driver and instrumentation.

S6.3.2. No adjustment, repair or replacement of any component is

allowed after the start of the first performance test.

S6.3.3. Tire inflation pressure. Cold inflation pressure is not more

than the maximum permissible pressure molded on the tire sidewall.

S6.3.4. Break-in. The vehicle completes the manufacturer's

recommended break-in agenda as a minimum condition prior to beginning

the performance tests.

S6.3.5. Vehicle openings. All vehicle openings (doors, windows,

hood, trunk, convertible top, cargo doors, etc.) are closed except as

required for instrumentation purposes.

S6.3.6. Battery powered vehicles. Prior to beginning the performance

tests, propulsion batteries are at the state of charge recommended by

the manufacturer or, if the manufacturer has made no recommendation, at

a state of charge of not less than 95 percent. No further charging of

any propulsion battery is permissible.

S7. Test procedure. Each vehicle must meet the performance limit

specified in S5(a) under the following test procedure. The maximum speed

performance is determined by measuring the maximum attainable vehicle

speed at any

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point in a distance of 1.6 km (1.0 mile) from a standing start and

repeated in the opposite direction within 30 minutes.

[63 FR 33216, June 17, 1998]