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Portsmouth adopts limited ban on low-speed vehicles on busy corridors
Summary
After a public hearing, the council adopted a narrowed prohibition on low-speed vehicles on sections of West Main and East Main Roads, citing safety concerns about traffic speeds and heavy vehicle use; motion passed 5–0.
The Portsmouth Town Council voted unanimously on Aug. 13 to adopt a municipal ordinance (draft B) that prohibits operation of federally defined low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on key high-speed/high-volume sections of West Main Road and on stretches of East Main Road.
Police Chief (recorded as S20) explained the rationale: LSVs are four-wheel vehicles that weigh under 3,000 pounds and have top speeds between 20 and 25 mph, but they must meet several federal equipment standards (headlamps, turn signals, VIN, seat belts). The department concluded LSVs pose an unreasonable risk on double-lane, high-volume roadways where 80th-percentile speeds exceed posted limits and tractor-trailer traffic is common. The chief said traffic counts used in the safety assessment showed roughly 18,700 vehicles per day on West Main Road (2021 data) and about 24,800 vehicles per day on East Main Road (2020 data).
The original draft would have banned LSVs across the entire corridors; after taking public comment and discussing connectivity concerns, the department and council offered a compromise that prohibits LSVs on West Main Road from the Middletown line to West Passage Drive and on most of East Main Road but permits two short green sections for permitted travel so users can traverse the island via lower-speed parallel streets. Several council members and commenters warned that the patchwork of allowed/prohibited segments could be confusing and noted enforcement and signage would be critical during rollout.
The council instructed Public Works and Police to prioritize signage and public education should the ordinance be implemented. The ordinance passed on the same night as the public hearing (motion and vote recorded 5–0).
