Golf cart accidents can cause anything from minor injuries and/or damage to catastrophic injuries and even death. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), there are approximately 15,000 golf cart related injuries annually that are serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room. While some of these accidents are a result of poor manufacturing design, most can be attributed to negligence on the part of those involved. These are preventable accidents that may have been avoided by knowing and following these tips.
Golf Cart Safety Tips
- Learn how to safely operate your golf cart by reading the owner's manual, if available, and follow all safety guidelines.
- Make sure the tires on the cart are inflated to the recommended tire pressure.
- Golf carts are lightweight and top-heavy, making them fairly easy to flip over if not driven properly. Avoid sudden or sharp turns and keep your speed within reason. The number one cause of golf cart injuries is passengers jumping or falling off the cart.
- Don't overcrowd your golf cart with passengers. Everyone riding on your cart should have their own seat. Don't allow anyone to hang out the side or back of the cart. Overcrowding makes it easier for passengers to fall off and puts additional strain on the golf cart, making it more difficult to handle safely.
- Just like with a roller-coaster, keep all body parts inside the golf cart.
- Just as with any vehicle, don't drink and drive or consume intoxicating substances before or while driving.
- Avoid distractions when driving a golf cart (or any vehicle). This particularly pertains to cell phone use, which the CPSC lists as the number one cause of distracted driving.
- Use seatbelts in your golf cart. While most golf carts don't come equipped with seatbelts, retrofitting them into your cart is fairly easy and well worth the modest cost when considering the added safety you'll enjoy.
- Avoid bad weather when possible.
- Perform regular maintenance.
- Have fun but stay safe!
