But why the decision to ban Kei trucks from Rhode Island streets? Because the DMV claims they don’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
Weird safety standards.
They don’t care about pedestrians (see Cybertruck)?The cyber truck is safe for pedestrians. Can’t hit a pedestrian if it never leaves the repair bay for recalls.
The safety requirements this vehicle doesn’t meet could easily be regarding hood design; highly studied and regulated to minimize pedestrian injury such as sharp angles or being pulled under the hood.
That snippit is out of context. The DMV claims they don’t meet FMVSS because they don’t.
… the DMV claims they don’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). And while it’s true Kei vehicles don’t meet those safety standards, they shouldn’t have to. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), imported vehicles at least 25 years old are exempt from FMVSS.
They are exploiting a loophole for personal antique vehicles to import or resell a fleet that doesn’t meet safety standards. It can become an issue and absolutely within scope of the DMV to keep an eye on.
Then the DMV better start cracking down on large trucks (F250, etc) as well. NHTSA “safety” standards have had all kinds of loopholes exempting large trucks and SUV from basic safety features including rollover protection, head restraint, and various impact protection systems.
Ironic that kei trucks on this side of the pond are actually more productive than those killer pickup trucks prowling the roads.