Golf Cart Safety
As golf cart use has moved off the golf course and into neighborhoods, sporting events, airports, national parks and college campuses, the growing number of golf-cart related injuries has become a concern. The following tips will help keep both drivers and passengers safe while they are using golf carts.
Drivers
- Drive carts at a reasonable speed.
- Like a car, drive slower and more carefully during bad weather.
- Brake slowly, especially on downhill slopes.
- Avoid sharp turns.
- Wear seat belts when available.
- Limit passengers to adults and children six years of age and older.
- Drivers should be at least 16 years old.
- Do not operate a cart after drinking alcohol.
Owners
- Never make post-factory modifications.
- Establish a regular maintenance schedule to keep the cart in good repair.
- Require drivers be at least 16 years old.
- It is illegal and dangerous to disable the cart’s speed governor.
Passengers
- Keep both feet on the floor at all times.
- Keep arms and legs inside the cart.
- Sit back in the seat and use the hip restraints.
- Wear seat belts when available.
- Be prepared to use the handgrip to prevent a fall.
- Do not get on or off the cart until it has come to a complete stop.
Facilities
- Require all drivers to have a valid driver’s license and to go through a safety/operations training before driving the cart.
- Have written safety policies.
- Consider safety in the design of pathways and landscapes where golf carts may be used.
Additional Golf Cart Safety Resources
- Fun ride or risky transport: Golf cart-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments from 2007 through 2017
- PubMed Abstract - Dec. 2020
- Golf cart-related injuries in the U.S
- PubMed Abstract - July 2008
- Press Release - June 2006