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SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL

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Electric cars for sale on San Juan Island

Safety is the priority, not owners' desires

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 2/8/2006
A refrain heard in many discussions in San Juan County is: "We should be able to do 'X' because we are unique." It may be a compelling argument for lower ferry fares or jet ski regulations. But as "unique" as we say we are, the laws of physics still hold true. Proponents of using low-speed electric vehicles (LSV) on all roads in the county are ignoring basic safety. When one of these "enhanced golf carts" is hit by a 6,000 pound SUV going 45 mph, it won't matter how special we said we were.

The LSV or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) are designed for short trips in a neighborhood. They are extremely popular on military bases, college campuses, resorts, and planned communities. The islands are none of these.

The vehicles could be more safely and appropriately used in Lopez Village or Eastsound, Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor where the speed limits are 35 mph or less. The vehicles have minimal safety equipment since they are designed not to exceed 25 mph. Modifying them to go faster, is illegal, voids the warranty and opens up the operator to charges of reckless endangerment.

Some of the people selling the vehicles in the islands are adamant the county can legally change its regulations and allow these vehicles to be operated on roads with limits greater than 35 mph. I have spoken to the manufacturer of the GEMs in North Dakota, the Washington State Patrol and the county Prosecutor. They all say the vehicles can only be legally used on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less. No ifs, ands or buts.

Some have asked the commissioners to lower the speed limits to 35 mph which would allow the LSVs on all roads. This doesn't make sense for many reasons. Volunteer firefighters and EMTS would need to abide by the slower speed limits, reducing response time. Children would spend more time on school buses as they slowly worked their way around the island. The frustration factor as drivers found themselves stuck for miles behind a LSV moving at 25 mph would be high. Many of the county roads are narrow and there is no where to safely pass.

It is time for reality to sink in. Sometimes you just can't do what you want to do. Use the vehicles as they were designed. Ignoring the safety issues and the law would inevitably lead to serious injury or death.

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