Moped riders across the state could be required as soon as next year to wear brightly colored vests, have strobe lights on their cycles and carry liability insurance.
Several state lawmakers said they are planning to introduce moped-related legislation in the wake of six Upstate deaths this year, including two in a month on U.S. 123 between Greenville and Easley.
Mopeds are among the smallest, slowest and most unregulated vehicles on the road, with some operators legally taking the handlebars as young as 14. Laws in other states vary with some, such as North Carolina, making youths wait until they are 16 to start driving mopeds.
Tracking how many mopeds are on the road can be tough. They don’t have to be registered, and state law leaves murky what constitutes a moped.
In some ways, golf carts are more regulated than mopeds. Golf cart drivers need a valid license and liability insurance to travel on state roads, while moped operators don’t.
Drivers with suspended licenses can operate mopeds for up to six months before having to get a moped license, and they don’t ever have to ever get liability insurance.
No comments:
Post a Comment