Golf cart injuries more common in kids than adults. Remember golf cart safety!

Golf carts are a common sight in vacation communities, neighborhoods, campgrounds, farms and other open spaces. People tend to believe and think of them as slow-moving vehicles and may not realize they need to be aware of potential safety issues when children are on golf carts.

Most golf cart injuries happen when someone is thrown from the vehicle, involved in a rollover, or struck by a golf cart. Common injuries include concussions, fractures, respiratory complications, neck injuries, and spinal injuries. With these hazards in mind, there are steps one can take to reduce the risks.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are approximately 15,000 golf cart related injuries requiring emergency room treatment in the United States each year.

Preventative Measures: Enhancing Golf Cart Safety…

Improving golf cart safety can aid in preventing accidents and injuries, particularly through the enhancement of safety features and the encouragement of responsible driving. Some of the most prevalent safety features included in golf cart models are:

• Headlights

• Turn signals

• Horns

• Seat belts

• Lights (such as brake lights and tail lights)

Importance of Safety Features in Golf Cart Models…

Incorporating safety features such as seat belts, brake lights, and indicators in golf cart models can decrease the risk of accidents and injuries. Seat belts ensure that users remain in the cart while in operation, and lights improve visibility and make the cart more visible to others.

Brake lights and indicators are of paramount importance in mitigating golf cart accidents by notifying other drivers when the cart is decelerating, halting, or altering direction.

Promoting Responsible Golf Cart Driving…

Promoting responsible golf cart driving habits can aid in accident prevention and reduce reckless driving incidents. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Maintain attentiveness while operating a golf cart.

2. Steer clear of uneven terrain to avoid accidents.

3. Refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

By following these tips, you can minimize the risk of accidents and ensure a safe golf cart driver experience.  It is important that you and your friends and family stay safe while driving these multi-purpose golf carts.

1. Always register your golf cart with the respective park management, development, or required authority in your area.  Always display authorized license plate, decal, or placard.

2. Always operate your golf cart on designated paths.

3. Always keep your golf cart well maintained and in tip-top shape Inspecting your golf cart often helps to cut down on unwanted surprises and helps keep you safe as you enjoy your golf cart usage.

4. Always drive responsibly; arms and legs should always remain in the vehicle and, if your cart is equipped with them, seat belts should always be fastened.

5. Always operate your golf cart from the driver’s side only.

6. Do not overload your golf cart with people.  Only carry passengers that you have seats for. Do not try to squeeze in extra passengers.

7. Never drive recklessly or joy ride. Be courteous to other drivers and obey vehicle traffic laws and the rules of the road in your area.

8. Never drive intoxicated or under the influence of any alcohol, drug or narcotic.

9. Avoid distractions while operating your golf cart. Remain attentive and avoid talking, texting, or reading while driving, reaching for objects, applying makeup or eating.

10. Never allow anyone to stand in the vehicle or on the platform located in the back of the vehicle and never put the vehicle in motion until all passengers are safely inside the vehicle and buckled in.

11. Always use hand signals or turn signals to indicate upcoming turns as well as your turn signals. Turn signals may be small or go unnoticed by vehicles behind you so it’s always a good idea to use hand signals as well.

12. Always check blind spots before turning. When making a left-hand turn, yield to the through traffic lane and merge into that lane before turning left.

13. Use caution while turning and look behind your golf cart before backing up.

14. Avoid excessive speeds, sudden starts and stops, and avoid sharp turns at fast speeds and speed bumps.

15. Reduce speed depending on the driving conditions and driving environment. Reduce speed on hills and inclines or declines, blind corners, and yield to pedestrians.

16. Do not leave keys in golf cart while unattended and always make sure to set the parking brake.

17. Always yield to pedestrians.

18. Use extreme caution in inclement weather. Golf carts may be prone to lightning strikes. Avoid driving in inclement weather if you can.

19. Above all, make sure to have fun and stay safe anytime you are working on, riding on or driving yours or someone else's golf cart.