There's a new three wheel car under pre-production now here that's called the Elio.
They're lobbying different states with helmet laws to exempt their fully enclosed three wheel car from the motorcycle helmet law. Several states have passed such exemptions for them already.
Without this exemption it would be like hopping in your Honda Civic and have to wear a helmet everywhere you go.
But take it one step further, there are coupe cars and there are ragtop cars. Both fall under the same laws for driving on the road.
Now take a state that has exempt the Elio from the helmet law and it's a three wheel motorcycle by legaleze.
So you have the M3W which is the same enclosed "car" but a ragtop, or topless, either way I think we're splitting hairs about topless etc.
I called our local State Highway Partrol which is responsible for home builts and such. I asked about the M3W as a "car" with a steering wheel, steel frame, boddy sides etc and he said it's still a motorcycle and the helmet law applies.
Now being a motorcycle, the strengent laws about car safety do not apply, air bags, seat belts, wipers; and the list goes on.
If we force a M3W to become a car, it has to have everything a new car would have to meet current safety standards.
I think here in Missouri, if I end up with a M3W, I'll wear the helmet and enjoy it regardless.
I thinkg trikes of any sort should remain motorcycles, but I do think requiring a three wheel cycle/car like the M3W, to wear helmets. I don't see the M3W much, if any less safe than say a Fiat 128 Spyder ragtop, no helmet required.
Lots of things can come of changing things, cycle to car, but I don't think there will many "good" things from it.
