[11] States which have specific regulations for LSVs include Alaska,[12] California,[13] Indiana,[14] Iowa, [15] Kansas,[16] Louisiana, [17] Maine[18] Maryland,[19] Missouri,[20] New York,[21] Oregon,[22] Rhode Island,[23] South Carolina,[24] Tennessee,[25] Utah[26] and Washington, DC.
[27] Nearly all 50 states allow LSVs, also called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), to drive on their roads where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.
In many cases, doors may be optional, crash protection from other vehicles is partially met compared to other non-motorized transport such as bicycles because of the use of seat belts.
In 2011, a Time magazine article concluded that the lack of passenger safety protection made most LSVs unfit for city driving, despite their excellent maneuverability.
Since 2010, the American Association of Retired Persons and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have expressed concerns about mixed traffic flows including this class of vehicle.