C-24.2, r. 39.2 - Pilot Project concerning low-speed vehicles

Updated to 1 September 2012

This document has official status.

chapter C-24.2, r. 39.2

Pilot Project concerning low-speed vehicles

Highway Safety Code

(chapter C-24.2, s. 633.1).

Revoked as of 17 July 2013.

The former alphanumerical designation of this Regulation was: chapter C-24.2, r. 48.

DIVISION I GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Implementation of the Pilot Project concerning low-speed vehicles is authorized on the basis of the following:

(1)  the introduction of new technologies that comply with road safety;

(2)  testing of the use of these low-speed vehicles on certain public roads;

(3)  gathering information about their operation in order to determine their incorporation in automobile traffic and their impact on the road network, to draft traffic safety rules and to determine safety equipment standards for low-speed vehicles travelling on certain public roads.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 1; M.O. 2011-09, s. 2.

2. For the purposes of this Order, a “low-speed vehicle” means a road vehicle powered by an electric motor and including not more than 4 seats, of one of the following makes:

(1)  Canadian Electric Vehicles, manufactured by Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd.;

(2)  Gem, manufactured by Global Electric Motorcars LLC;

(3)  Goupil, manufactured by Goupil Industrie S.A.;

(4)  Kargo, manufactured by Services Précicad inc.;

(5)  Nemo, manufactured by Véhicules Nemo inc. and Véhicules Volt-Age inc.;

(6)  Vantage, manufactured by Vantage Vehicle International, Inc.;

(7)  Zenn, manufactured by Zenn Motor Company Ltd.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 2; M.O. 2011-09, s. 3.

3. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec is authorized to enter into agreements with manufacturers and distributors of low-speed vehicles for the purposes set forth in section 1, concerning in particular:

(1)  the gathering of information on the use of such vehicles;

(2)  the communication of information to buyers and lessees of vehicles;

(3)  the transfer of information to the Société;

(4)  the mandatory equipment of the vehicles.

The agreements are published on the website of the Société.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 3.

DIVISION II VEHICLE REGISTRATION

4. A low-speed vehicle must be registered as a passenger vehicle with restricted use. It must display a licence plate bearing the prefix “C” pursuant to section 124 of the Regulation respecting road vehicle registration (chapter C-24.2, r. 29).

To register his vehicle and obtain the right to operate it on the road, the owner must be registered in this pilot project.

The Société keeps a record of the registration of participants in the pilot project.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 4.

5. To register in this pilot project, the owner of a low-speed vehicle must provide an email address or, failing that, a postal address, in order to be contacted by the Société for the purposes set forth in section 1, and his telephone numbers.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 5.

DIVISION III DRIVER’S LICENCE AND SEIZURE

6. Sections 65 and 209.1 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) do not apply to the driving of a low-speed vehicle.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 6.

7. To drive a low-speed vehicle, a person must hold a class 5 driver’s licence.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 7.

8. A peace officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person driving a low-speed vehicle without being a holder of a driver’s licence provided for under section 7 may immediately, at the owner’s expense and on behalf of the Société, seize and impound the vehicle for a period of 30 days.

Sections 209.3 and 209.26 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) apply to vehicle seizure effected under the first paragraph, with the necessary modifications.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 8.

DIVISION IV SALE AND LEASE

9. A low-speed vehicle dealer must notify a buyer or lessee of the rules that apply to use of a low-speed vehicle and have the buyer or lessee sign a document stating that he has received and read all of documents in respect of the pilot project.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 9.

10. No person shall sell, lease or make available to another person for valuable consideration or in any form sell, lease or make available to another person for valuable consideration a low-speed vehicle that does not comply with the law and is not fitted with all of the equipment required under Division VI.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 10.

DIVISION V ACCIDENTS

11. Section 176 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) does not apply to an accident involving a low-speed vehicle.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 11.

DIVISION VI EQUIPMENT

12. Subparagraphs 2, 7, 9 and 10 of section 215, as well as sections 221, 258 and 274 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) do not apply to a low-speed vehicle.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 12.

13. For the purposes of subparagraph 3.1 of section 215 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2), a low-speed vehicle must be equipped with at least one red reflector at the rear of the vehicle.

For the purposes of subparagraph 8 of the same section, the requirement to equip a motor vehicle with one red side lamp on each side, as far to the rear as practicable, does not apply to low-speed vehicles.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 13.

14. A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with:

(1)  a slow moving vehicle identification emblem that complies with the requirements set out in the agreement between the vehicle manufacturer and the Société;

(2)  a notice placed on the rear of the vehicle indicating its maximum speed that complies with the requirements set out in the agreement between the vehicle manufacturer and the Société;

(3)  a proximity warning system: a warning system that emits an intermittent noise when the vehicle is in movement in the vicinity of a pedestrian or cyclist and intended to signal the vehicle’s presence provided its sound level is less than the warning system covered under section 254 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2);

(4)  an information notice, visible to occupants of the vehicle, listing rules for use of the vehicle in compliance with requirements set forth in the agreement between the vehicle manufacturer and the Société;

(5)  a defrost system;

(6)  a heating system;

(7)  a 3-point seat belt;

(8)  a 17-character identification number; and

(9)  doors.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 14.

DIVISION VII ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS

15. The letters “VBV” that appear on a road sign indicate that the message is aimed at the driver of a low-speed vehicle.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 15.

16. The person in charge of the maintenance of a public road may post a sign on the road to convey the message shown in Schedule A, to prohibit a low-speed vehicle from travelling on this road.

The person in charge of the maintenance of a public road may also post a sign on the road in question to convey the message shown in Schedule B and indicate the direction in which the vehicle must travel, requiring the driver of a low-speed vehicle to travel in the direction indicated on the road sign.

The person in charge of the maintenance of a public road must install, in part of a public road where the incline is 15% or greater, the sign set out in the first paragraph in order to prohibit all drivers of low-speed vehicles from travelling on the slope.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 16; M.O. 2011-09, s. 4.

17. The driver of a low-speed vehicle is required to comply with all road signs and signals placed along a public road pursuant to section 16.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 17.

DIVISION VIII OPERATION

18. No person shall drive a low-speed vehicle on a limited access highway or on its entrance or exit lanes.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 18.

19. No person may drive a low-speed vehicle of the makes Canadian Electric Vehicles, Goupil, Kargo, Nemo, Vantage and Zenn on a public road on which the maximum posted speed limit is greater than 50 km/h.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 19; M.O. 2011-09, s. 5.

19.1. No person may drive a low-speed vehicle of the make Gem on a public road on which the maximum posted speed limit is greater than 40 km/h.

M.O. 2011-09, s. 5.

20. No person shall, while driving a low-speed vehicle, cross the roadway of a public road on which the posted maximum speed limit is greater than 50 km/h in the case of a low-speed vehicle of the makes Canadian Electric Vehicles, Goupil, Kargo, Nemo, Vantage and Zenn, and 40 km/h in the case of a low-speed vehicle of the make Gem, unless he crosses the roadway at an intersection where traffic lights or stop signs are present or at a traffic circle.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 20; M.O. 2011-09, s. 6.

21. On a roadway with two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction, the driver of a low-speed vehicle must travel in the same direction as traffic and in the far right lane, except:

(1)  if he is making a left turn;

(2)  if the lane on the extreme right is reserved for other types of vehicles, is obstructed or closed to traffic, in which case he must drive in the lane next to the extreme right lane.

For the purposes of the first paragraph and in every case in which he is required to change lanes, the driver must, using his turn-signal lights, signal his intention over a sufficient distance so as not to endanger his safety and the safety of other users of a public road, and ensure that he can perform the manoeuver without risk.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 21.

22. The driver of a low-speed vehicle must keep the headlights of his vehicle on at all times.

The first paragraph does not apply during the day if the vehicle is equipped with daytime running lights except where weather conditions require use of the vehicle’s headlights.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 22.

23. No person shall use a low-speed vehicle to tow a trailer or semi-trailer.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 23.

DIVISION IX PENAL PROVISIONS

24. A person who contravenes section 7 commits an offence and is liable to a $300 to $360 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 24.

25. A dealer who contravenes section 9 commits an offence and is liable to a $360 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 25.

26. A person who contravenes section 10 commits an offence and is liable to a $360 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 26.

27. The owner of a vehicle that fails to comply with one of the requirements listed in paragraph 1 or 2 of section 14 commits an offence and is liable to a $30 to $60 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 27.

28. The owner of a vehicle that fails to comply with one of the requirements set forth in paragraph 3 or 4 of section 14 commits an offence and is liable to a $100 to $200 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 28.

29. A person who contravenes any of sections 17 to 23 commits an offence and is liable to a $100 to $200 fine.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 29.

DIVISION X MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

30. This Order prevails over any irreconcilable provision of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2).

M.O. 2008-07, s. 30.

31. This Order is revoked on 17 July 2011.

Despite the first paragraph, this Order is extended for an additional 2-year period.

M.O. 2008-07, s. 31; M.O. 2011-09, s. 7.

SCHEDULE A

M.O. 2008-07, Sch. A.

SCHEDULE B

M.O. 2008-07, Sch. B.

REFERENCES

M.O. 2008-07, 2008 G.O. 2, 2566

M.O. 2011-09, 2011 G.O. 2, 1397