Sub Compact Utility Vehicle and Low Speed Vehicle Safety
Many departments across campus are utilizing Sub-Compact Utility Vehicles (SCUVs) or Low Speed Vehicles/Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (LSV/NEV) to maneuver around campus. Vehicles such as Gators, Polaris Gems, Club Cars, Toros, etc. may be less expensive and more convenient to use than conventional vehicles. While the increased convenience may be time-saving, these vehicles may pose different risks to occupants, pedestrians, and persons with disabilities. In addition, the cost to repair damage to hardscape and turf areas can be considerable. Therefore, to reduce risk and unnecessary cost, the following procedures are to be followed.
Polaris Gems and other SCUVs with 17 digit VIN numbers and State registrations comprise a specific class of vehicle known as low-speed vehicles (LSVs) or neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) and require additional operator procedures that are outlined below. LSVs and NEVs may not be operated on a street or highway for which the posted speed limit is greater than 45 miles per hour.
Operating Procedures and Requirements
The Purchasing Department has established standards and methods for the procurement and disposal of SCUVs. Please contact purchasing@smu.edu before requesting a quote from any vendor.
The procurement, transfer, disposal, etc. of a SCUV should be recorded in under Fleet Vehicle Management.
The department for which the unit is operated is responsible for the costs associated with the purchase, installation and maintenance of all required safety features.
Non-Street Legal SCUVs
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Reflective orange triangle
- Driver's side and passenger side rear view mirrors OR interior rear view mirror
Additional safety features may include:
- Turn signals
- Rooftop strobe
Street Legal Vehicles (Low Speed Vehicles or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles)
- A maximum speed of 35 mph
- Four tires
- Seat belts
- Head and tail lights
- A windshield
- A parking brake
- Turn signals
- Rear-view mirrors
- Brake lights
- Reflectors
- A valid 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- A valid state registration and license plate
All SMU-owned, long-term-leased (greater than six weeks), and contractor-owned SCUVs or LSV/NEVs must added in STABLE under Fleet Vehicle Management. The Office of Risk Management will then register your SCUV or LSV/NEV and issue a registration label (see example below). Labels may be picked up from the Office of Risk Management, suite 100, in the Dawson Service Center. This label is to be mounted on the inner front side of the passenger side windshield.
Short-term rentals (1 day to 41 days), must have a label on the front windshield (without blocking sight lines) identifying the responsible department or contractor and contact information. This label can be as simple as a laminated piece of paper affixed to the windshield.
TxDMV does not title and register Golf Carts, but Golf Carts must obtain a Golf Cart license plate. You can obtain a Golf Cart license plate from your county tax assessor-collector’s office. The county will require a .
For more information, visit
Upon registration, each SMU-owned, long-term-leased, and contractor-owned SCUV or LSV/NEV will also be issued three sets of vinyl numbers, identical to the registration number assigned by the Office of Risk Management. These will be picked up concurrently with the registration label in Dawson Service Center Suite 100. The Operator will place the vinyl numbers on the vehicle. The numbers will be placed on the front, the left side, and the right side of the vehicle and must be maintained in readable condition at all times by the Operator department.
Short term leases or rentals (1-41 days), shall have the below (or similar) affixed in an easily seen location on the front of the vehicle, preferably in the upper left hand corner of the windshield while providing an unobstructed view. The tag must identify the department, responsible party, and a contact number.
A key feature of this year’s football traffic and control plan is the introduction of the No Wheel Zone. This zone will be in effect starting 4 hours before the game and will continue until 30 minutes after kickoff. The zone will be reinstated at the beginning of the 4th quarter and remain in place until one hour after the game ends. The No Wheel Zone restricts all wheeled vehicles, with the exception of pushcarts and Sub-Compact Utility Vehicles (SCUVs) that are essential for operations and have the proper credentials.
SCUVs that are not essential for game-day operations are allowed up to the edge of the No Wheel Zone and can park in the designated SCUV Parking areas shown on the attached map. Please note that during active No Wheel Zone periods, no credentialed SCUV should be parked along the perimeter of Ford Stadium, except for brief loading, unloading, or medical emergencies.
The Office of Risk Management (ORM) will issue single-game SCUV credentials to those units identified as essential. These credentials will be specific to both the SCUV and its driver. To request an Event SCUV Credential, please submit the necessary no later than Tuesday at Noon prior to each game. Actual credentials will be delivered during the weekly Football Game Ops meeting.
Only SMU employees and third-party partners who have completed the Engaged Driver training within the past three years and possess a clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) are authorized to operate a SCUV. It is imperative that all potential drivers have completed this training. For verification of training completion, or if you require this training, please reach out to Johnathan Dowd at jddowd@smu.edu.
- Operators must yield to pedestrians at all times. Care must be taken on sidewalks. Speed is to be reduced when approaching pedestrians and a vocal call-out or request to pass must be issued prior to passing pedestrians and other SCUVs.
- Only non-street legal SCUVs are allowed to operate on sidewalks.
- LSVs and NEVs are not allowed to operate on sidewalks except on pedestrian malls with fire lanes. Please refer to SCUV Operations Map for details. [1]
- Operators are to be diligent and pay particular attention to the needs of disabled persons, as limitations in vision, hearing, or mobility may impair their ability to see, hear, or move out of the way of SCUVs.
- Operators may not use cell phones or tablets for any reason including for text, email, music, photos, phone calls, or for any use while operating the SCUV
- Operators may not wear headsets, earphones, or ear buds while operating SCUVs.
- SCUVs and LSV/NEVs should be parked on hard surfaces and must not be parked under a covered area of the building, or building envelope.
- SCUVs not block any entrances to buildings, stairways, ramps, or thoroughfares.
- SCUVs and LSV/NEVs may park in specifically designated areas in garages or covered parking lots but are not allowed to park in SMU permitted parking spots.
- Operators are not to block handicap access points and ramps.
- All items carried by SCUVs and LSV/NEVs will be secured (via bungee cords, tie-downs, etc.) to prevent them from falling out of the vehicle.
- SCUVs and LSV/NEVs are not to be overloaded, i.e., carrying more passengers than seating provides or overloading the vehicle’s recommended carrying or equipment load capacity. Passengers are prohibited from riding in the utility bed of SCUVs or LSV/NEVs.
- SCUVs and LSV/NEVs are to be used for University business only.
- Keys are never to be left in the vehicle at any time. Operators are responsible for ignition keys for the period of time in which they are using the vehicle.
- Operators are not allowed to drive SCUVs or LSV/NEVs under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Operators will present SMU identification cards to SMU PD or ORM upon request.
- SCUVs and and LSV/NEVs must be operated in accordance with state law and city ordinances.
[1]Texas Transportation Code: Sec. 545.422. CROSSING SIDEWALK OR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
(a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, sidewalk area, or hike and bike trail except on a permanent or authorized temporary driveway.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle on a hike and bike trail in connection with maintenance of the trail.
(c) In this section, "hike and bike trail" means a trail designed for the exclusive use of pedestrians, bicyclists, or both.
Non-Street Legal SCUVs
Non- street legal SCIVs are not allowed to cross Highway 75 or Mockingbird and shall only be used to conduct University business on the main, contiguous campus. These vehicles shall not be driven on grassy/landscaped areas or inside any University building.
Street legal SCUVs, LSVs and NEVs
Street legal SCUVs, LSVs and NEVs are only allowed to operate on streets and pedestrian malls with fire lanes. Operating the these units on sidewalks is prohibited.
Parking
Parking of SCUVs, LSVs and NEVs is prohibited in the following locations:- Vehicle parking spaces of any kind
- Grassy/landscaping areas
- Within 10 feet of any building entrance or fire hydrant
- Blocking a crosswalk, loading dock, fire lane, stairs, access ramps, or curb cut
Maintenance is the financial responsibility of the department for which the particular SCUV or LSV/NEVs is operated. Maintenance contracts must be obtained through the Purchasing Department.
SCUVs and LSV/NEVs must be kept in safe operating condition at all times. Vehicles that are rendered unsafe to operate will immediately be taken out of service.