Street legal in the UK

[pdisme]

From what I see online, it sounds like just about anything with four wheels and a motor can be made street legal in the UK. :) What's the deal with that? Is it because cars aren't generally the big rolling behemoths they are over here so fender benders are not as frequent or not as much of an issue and deaths from serious wrecks are just lower in general? Or is traffic as bad there as it is here and more people just end up dead? What inspired this musing was a show I saw on TV last night about the TVR, 0-60 in 3 seconds, fiberglass body, etc. but not legal here.

I believe we have some of the worst drivers around in the states since driving is supposedly a privilege, but more often than not, treated as a right; see Florida for example where AARP lobbyists continue to keep just about any restrictions from being put into place on old motorists such as maybe requiring 60+ year olds to have an eye test or driving test more often than every 15 years?!?! :wtf: I'm all for senior citizens being treated fairly but there's no denying the fact that your senses decline as you age and it's just stupid to not require an eye exam every few years for the oldest drivers.

Maybe if we had better drivers we would have less requirements on something to be street legal since most legislation is reactive rather than proactive and what defines street legal probably came about from people getting killed.

[Matt]

the thing with the UK is, in order to be able to drive a car on the road it has to pass an MOT. So basically if you have a window made of duct tape or your rear bumper is missing etc you will not be allowed to drive it unlike here where the state doesnt give a shit if your car is a hazard on wheels. If your car doens't pass MOT you pay, have it fixed then have it checked again until it is legal to be driven. when your car does pass MOT you get a sticker that you display in your window saying so. I really feel the U.S. needs laws like this.

[pdisme]

Hmm, the show was saying the TVR wasn't brought over here because it didn't have bumpers, so apparently that's not a requirement in the UK. :)

[Matt]

well the lotus elise doesnt have bumpers so to speak either.

[jrfootin]

I was told with a fw modifications you can get the Radical street legal in Nevada or Phoenix??

Not to sure but I think I remember hearing that somewhere.

[pdisme]

That's why a simple collision costs $15k to repair; ouch!

SuperVixen's Elise had a little boo boo with its mirror this morning. :)

[pdisme]

I was told with a fw modifications you can get the Radical street legal in Nevada or Phoenix??

Not to sure but I think I remember hearing that somewhere.

What streets in this country can you drive a car with 100 mm of ground clearance? :)

[jrfootin]

good point!

You might need to add air like th eMurcielago to raise the car 4" to go over speed bumbs, etc.....

It is more just to drive around the block without the fear of getting a ticket.

[pdisme]

I'm sure my neighbors would love to hear that; the Radical isn't exactly quiet. :lol2: Hell, the Murci is not quiet either; the G is pretty quiet though at low rpm's due to the bypass valve.

[Mike S]

If you think that's street legal in the UK - you should see what's street legal here!