Roadwise States Virginia Driving lessons Light Rail & Low Speed Vehicles Virginia driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Light Rail & Low Speed Vehicles A 3-minute lesson from the Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 22, 23 In Norfolk, light rail trains run right alongside cars and bikes. Elsewhere you'll meet low speed vehicles: small four-wheel electric or gas vehicles that are street-legal only on slower roads.
The Tide Norfolk's light rail system. Its trains share the road with vehicles and bicyclists and cross motor vehicle traffic at 27 locations along a 7.4 mile route.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Staying safe around The Tide: Pay attention to changing traffic patterns and always follow the roadway Never drive around lowered crossing gates Always look both ways before turning across train tracks Expect trains on any track at any time Always obey signs and traffic signals Never stop, pass or shift on train tracks Cross only if you can clear the tracks to a safe distance without stopping Handbook p. 23 ↗ Low speed vehicle An electrically or gas-powered four-wheel vehicle with a maximum speed ranging from 21 to 25 MPH.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ 35 MPH or less Posted limit of roads where low speed vehicles may be operated
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Low speed vehicles may be driven by licensed drivers, or by learner's permit holders accompanied by a licensed driver.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
They must meet all federal safety standards plus Virginia's passenger vehicle registration and insurance requirements.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Golf carts are not classified as low speed vehicles.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Put it into practice
Your neighbor wants to drive her low speed vehicle to a store on a 45-MPH road. She can't: low speed vehicles are allowed only on roads with limits of 35 MPH or less.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the name of Virginia's light rail train system that shares the road with vehicles in Norfolk? The Metro The Trolley The Tide The Link Answer: The Tide
The Tide is the light rail train system in Norfolk that shares the road with motor vehicles and bicyclists.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ What should you never do at a light rail crossing? Look both ways before turning across the tracks Follow the roadway's traffic pattern Obey traffic signals near the tracks Drive around lowered crossing gates Answer: Drive around lowered crossing gates
You should never drive around lowered crossing gates at a light rail crossing.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ What should you always assume about trains at a light rail crossing? Expect trains on any track at any time Trains only run during rush hour Trains always announce their approach with a horn Only one direction has active train traffic Answer: Expect trains on any track at any time
You should always expect trains on any track at any time near a light rail crossing.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ What is the approximate maximum speed of a low speed vehicle? 10 to 15 MPH 21 to 25 MPH 30 to 35 MPH 40 to 45 MPH Answer: 21 to 25 MPH
Low speed vehicles have a maximum speed ranging from 21 to 25 MPH.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Low speed vehicles may be operated on public roads with speed limits of what maximum? 25 MPH or less 45 MPH or less 35 MPH or less 55 MPH or less Answer: 35 MPH or less
Low speed vehicles may be operated on public roads with speed limits of 35 MPH or less.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Are golf carts classified as low speed vehicles under Virginia law? Yes, they are treated identically Only if registered with DMV Only if driven on a public road No, golf carts are not classified as low speed vehicles Answer: No, golf carts are not classified as low speed vehicles
Golf carts are specifically not classified as low speed vehicles under Virginia law.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Previous lesson Bicycles & Motorcycles Next lesson Trucks, Buses, RVs & Trailers About the source Roadwise’s Virginia course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 22, 23. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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