QuadricycleJapan

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108. Quadricycle

A quadricycle is a motor vehicle with four wheels that belongs to a vehicle category below or separate from an ordinary passenger car. Quadricycles may be designed for passenger transport, goods transport or recreational use and can be powered by a combustion engine or electric motor.

Traffic law commonly distinguishes between light quadricycles, which have relatively low power and maximum design speed, and heavier or more powerful quadricycles. Driving-licence, helmet, registration, insurance and road-access requirements depend on the vehicle's legal classification and the local traffic regulations.

Quadricycle
Quadricycle International Q-Cycle 6 at the Old Port of Montreal. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Wikimedia.org • Ahunt • CC0
What is a quadricycle?

A quadricycle is a four-wheeled motor vehicle belonging to a specialised vehicle category distinct from an ordinary passenger car.

What is a light quadricycle?

A light quadricycle is a relatively low-powered four-wheel motor vehicle with a restricted maximum design speed. In European vehicle classification, light quadricycles belong to category L6e.

What is a heavy quadricycle?

A heavier or more powerful quadricycle that does not qualify as a light quadricycle can fall within category L7e under European vehicle-classification rules.

Is a quadricycle the same as a car?

No. Although some enclosed quadricycles resemble very small cars, they belong to a different technical and legal vehicle category and can have different licence, power, mass and road-access rules.

Is a quadricycle the same as a quad or ATV?

Not necessarily. The quadricycle category includes several types of four-wheel motor vehicles. Some are open recreational quads, while others are enclosed road-going microcars designed for passengers or goods.

Can a quadricycle be electric?

Yes. Quadricycles can use electric motors, combustion engines or other approved propulsion systems.

Do you need a driving licence for a quadricycle?

Usually yes, but the required licence depends on whether the vehicle is classified as a light or heavier quadricycle and on the country's licensing system.

Does a quadricycle need a licence plate?

Road-going quadricycles commonly require registration and a registration plate. Exact requirements vary between countries.

Must quadricycle occupants wear helmets?

This depends on the vehicle design and local law. Open quadricycles may require helmets, while enclosed vehicles with a passenger compartment and restraint systems can be subject to seat-belt rules instead.

Can a quadricycle carry passengers?

Yes, when it is designed and approved to do so. The number of passengers may not exceed the vehicle's approved seating capacity.

Can a quadricycle use a motorway?

This depends on its vehicle category, construction speed and local motorway-access rules. Low-speed light quadricycles are normally unsuitable for motorway traffic.

Does a quadricycle follow motorcycle or car traffic rules?

This depends on its legal classification. Some light quadricycles are treated similarly to mopeds, while heavier quadricycles may follow many of the ordinary rules applying to cars.

1 Japan 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Zone 5 Speed limit 6 Minimum speed 7 Footpath 8 Bike path 9 Shared-use path 10 Tunnel 11 Toll road 12 One-way traffic 13 Quay 14 Slope 15 Bus lane 16 Bus stop 17 Stop sign 18 Give way 19 Roundabout 20 Road narrowing 21 Pedestrian crossing 22 Railway crossing 23 Mandatory direction 24 Turn prohibition 25 School area 26 Overtaking 27 Crossing animals 28 Slippery road 29 Rockfall 30 Curve 31 Wrong-way driving 32 Roadworks 33 Crosswind 34 Height limit 35 Width limit 36 Weight limit 37 Radar speed sign 38 Selective barriers 39 Intersection direction sign 40 Traffic lights 41 Traffic lights warning 42 Pedestrian lights 43 Road markings 44 Driving licence 45 Location marker 46 Traffic mirror 47 Emergency telephone 48 Cycling route 49 Parking 50 No parking 51 No stopping 52 Disabled parking 53 Traffic management 54 Reversing 55 U-turn 56 Uncontrolled crossroad 57 Road surface 58 Provisional licence 59 Emergency exit 60 City limit 61 Horn 62 Licence plate 63 Charging station 64 Dangers 65 Pedestrian 66 Cyclist 67 Moped 68 Motorcycle 69 Car 70 Truck 71 Bus 72 Police 73 Ambulance 74 Pothole 75 Path 76 Particulates 77 Air pollution 78 Rush hour 79 Road code 80 Two-way traffic 81 Street gutter 82 Cargo bike 83 Forestry vehicle 84 Construction vehicle 85 Semi-trailer truck 86 Trolleybus 87 Speed pedelec 88 Delivery vehicle 89 Idling 90 Tow truck 91 Four-wheel drive 92 No vehicles 93 Bicycle 94 Motorcycle equipment 95 Tram 96 Rail track 97 Caravan 98 Trailer 99 Tow hitch 100 Fire truck ... 101 Siren 102 Convoy 103 Emergency vehicle lighting 104 Agricultural machinery 105 Electric bicycle 106 Electric vehicle 107 Pedelec 108 Quadricycle 109 Microcar 110 All-terrain vehicle 111 Van 112 Recreational vehicle 113 Scooter 114 Trikke 115 Personal mobility device 116 Skateboard 117 Segway 118 Kick scooter 119 Roller skates 120 Mailman 121 Hitchhiker 122 Toddler 123 Child 124 Disability 125 Handcart 126 Motorail 127 km/h 128 mph 129 Speedometer 130 Ride height 131 Dirt road 132 Driving 133 Start-stop system 134 Manual transmission 135 Automatic transmission 136 Throttle 137 Tachometer 138 Steering wheel 139 Power steering 140 Visual scanning 141 Mirror 142 Fuel 143 Fuel gauge 144 Petrol 145 Diesel 146 Diesel exhaust fluid 147 Car insurance 148 First aid kit 149 Fire extinguisher 150 High-visibility clothing 151 First aid 152 Concrete step barrier 153 Barriers 154 Vehicle lights 155 Street lights 156 Dipped beam 157 High beam 158 Fog lights 159 Front fog lights 160 Rear fog lights 161 Side lights 162 Turn signals 163 Hazard lights 164 Dashboard lights 165 Bicycle lighting 166 Bicycle bell 167 Headlight flashing 168 Seat belt 169 Child restraints 170 Head restraints 171 Airbag 172 ABS 173 Esp 174 Traction control system 175 Helmet 176 Bicycle helmet 177 Hands-free 178 Smartphone 179 GPS 180 Brake 181 Handbrake 182 Brake fluid 183 Tyres 184 Tyre code 185 Winter tyres 186 Tyre pressure 187 Snow chains 188 Bicycle tyre 189 Continuous track 190 Gross Vehicle Weight 191 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 192 Cargo 193 Car body 194 Trunk 195 Roof rack 196 Windscreen 197 Emergency hammer 198 Car battery 199 Traction battery 200 Suspension 201 Shock absorber 202 Spring 203 Exhaust 204 Exhaust gas 205 Soot 206 Catalytic converter 207 Engine 208 Petrol engine 209 Diesel engine 210 Electric motor 211 Timing belt 212 Glow plug 213 Cylinder 214 Engine oil 215 Coolant 216 Maintenance 217 Spare tyre 218 Flat tyre 219 Jack 220 Vehicle inspection 221 Key 222 Dashboard 223 Windscreen wiper 224 Doors 225 Glovebox 226 Visibility 227 Rain 228 Fog 229 Hail 230 Sunlight 231 Sunglasses 232 Salt 233 Air conditioning 234 Hydroplaning 235 Distraction 236 Emotions 237 Road rage 238 Health 239 Epilepsy 240 Night blindness 241 Visual impairment 242 Fatigue 243 Defects 244 Traffic violation 245 Alcohol 246 Alcohol control 247 Ignition interlock device 248 Breath test 249 Breath analysis 250 Blood alcohol content 251 Blood test 252 Saliva test 253 Drugs 254 Medication 255 Penalties 256 Speeding 257 Smoking 258 Traffic enforcement camera 259 Double curve 260 Accident 261 Injuries 262 Nosebleed 263 Damage 264 Breakdown 265 Warning triangle 266 Traffic rules 267 Driving school 268 Traffic signs