GEM vehicles?

Alicia-N-2SafeBugs · Apr 6, 2007

We just moved to a new state and I have seen several of these driving around our town:

A couple days ago, I saw one with a RF infant seat on the front passenger seat and a couple kids in the back. I was too busy trying to process what I was seeing with the infant seat to notice what the kids in the back were secured with. I've looked around the site a little bit and can't see where it says anything about being compatible or safe with carseats or being LATCH equipped. This particular model had no doors and knowing how poorly the general public installs carseats, my first reaction was that this infant seat could literally fall out of the door if the parent has not locked the seatbelt when installing.

Are these safe to use with carseats??

southpawboston · Apr 6, 2007

are these driving around on public streets? or only within private communities? i've seen those in southern and western states with lots of large private communities, but i've never seen them being driven on public roads. i don't think they are even road-legal, since they don't have doors, headrests, or even shoulder belts.

Alicia-N-2SafeBugs · Apr 6, 2007

They are driving around on public streets. This is what the website says:

GEM vehicles are engineered to meet federal safety requirements for street-legal operation as a low-speed vehicle (LSV). GEM vehicles can be driven on most public roads that are posted at 35 mph or less, in states that have approved the use of neighborhood electric vehicles. GEM vehicles meet the latest requirements set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for this class of vehicle. The requirements include a safety glass windshield, wipers, headlamps, taillights, turn signals, high mounted stoplights, mirrors, and three-point safety belts, among other accepted automotive safety features.

http://www.gemcar.com