Golf cars or, as they are mostly referred to ”golf carts”, are finding their way more and more on locations other than the green grass of our golf courses. This poses a significant road safety risk as these carts are not designed with the safety requirements we find in other vehicles.
The risks are best exposed by reflecting on the latest data from accident research. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Centre for Injury Sciences found that there were more than 48 255 golf-cart related injuries between 2002 and 2005. A new study has also found that golf cart-related injuries jumped from 5,772 in 1990 to 13,441 in 2006.
The researchers have found that popularity of golf carts has risen dramatically with these four-wheeled vehicles used beyond golf courses and becoming a mode of transportation at sporting events, hospitals, airports, national parks, college campuses, businesses and military bases.
It is necessary that we share our safety concerns with these operators and the Arrive Alive Road Safety website included safety advice in a section on golf cars and road safety. Some of these suggestions are:
- All operators must abide by all traffic regulations applicable to vehicular traffic.
- Do not exceed the maximum safe occupancy. No golf cart is to be operated with more passengers than seating is provided.
- Do not exceed maximum safe speeds, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic – A golf cart should be operated at a speed equivalent to a well-paced walk.
The maximum speed of a golf cart depends upon the terrain over which it is being driven, the weather conditions, and the total weight of the golf cart, passengers and any equipment being carried.
- Never back up without looking to see what is behind the cart.
- Golf cart drivers are required to use a horn or other audible signal when approaching pedestrians from behind — electric carts are very quiet and can injure pedestrians.
- Maintain adequate distance between golf cart and pedestrian.
- All occupants in the golf cart shall keep hands, arms, legs and feet within the confines of the golf cart at all times when the cart is in motion.
- Carts driven at night must be equipped with functional headlights and tail lights.
- Park cars in a manner that they do not impede or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow on roadways, ramps or sidewalks.
- Do not park carts where they will block emergency equipment, pedestrian aisles, doorways or intersections.
- All golf carts shall display a slow moving vehicle triangle on the rear of the vehicle.
Only allow towing by those golf carts originally designed for towing.
May our focus on road safety extend to all modes of transport!
