FDOT encourages publicly-funded transportation providers throughout the state to consider innovative options to provide enhanced mobility to decrease traffic congestion, provide cost-effective service, and meet consumer demand. As always, public safety is at the forefront of FDOT’s mission. As such, we are providing the attached document to serve as a resource for transportation providers as they consider the safety risks of operating or contracting with providers to offer service with low speed vehicles.
The attached document applies strictly to low speed vehicles as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to this definition, low speed vehicles are 4-wheeled motor vehicles with a top speed greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 3,000 pounds. We request that if you are a publicly funded transportation provider who operates or contracts with a provider to provide a different type of vehicle that operates at low-speeds, such as three-wheeled vehicles, to please contact Tony Brandin, Transit Operations Manager, at 850-414-4736 or Tony.Brandin@dot.state.fl.us.
We developed the attached information in response to the increasing popularity of low speed vehicles as an option for enhancing public transportation. We are grateful for the input of our partners at the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research and the Florida State University-Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Engineering for their input and support.
We look forward to continued coordination on enhanced and safe mobility.
Sincerely,
Ashley Porter, Transit Safety Programs Manager and Tony Brandin, Transit Operations Manager