People spend months learning how to safely drive a car safely, but often don’t give safe operation of golf cars a second thought. This is unfortunate, because it’s just as important to drive safely in these vehicles as it is to drive safely in a traditional automobile. You may not think that golf cars can do much damage, but driving them in an irresponsible or reckless manner can lead to accidents and injuries.
For example, an accident in Australia involving one of these vehicles left one child in critical condition and six other children injured. A cart carrying seven children crashed into a tree on a property in Yallingup, Australia. Four of the children had to go to the hospital, including a fifteen-year-old boy who had to be airlifted to the Royal Perth Hospital because of the severity of his injuries. In addition to the four children who were hospitalized, three other children sustained minor injuries, including cuts, scrapes, and bruises. A similar incident happened in Colleton County, South Carolina. Three people riding on a golf cart were taken to the hospital in critical condition after their cart collided with a vehicle. The people inside the vehicle were not injured.
There are approximately 15,000 collisions involving golf cars each year where the driver and/or passengers have required emergency room treatment. This is on top of the many other accidents and collisions that have not resulted in such severe injuries. Golf cars have become quite popular in recent years, not just at the country club but with senior citizens, teenagers, and adults as well. As these small vehicles become more prevalent, it is important to keep in mind that without proper training and supervision, people driving these vehicles may pose a risk both to themselves and to others.
These vehicles first became popular as an alternative to traditional automobiles because their small size and relatively low speeds make them easier to handle, especially for senior citizens. Additionally, the minimum age to operate one is lower than the age required to obtain a driver’s license, which has caused many parents to purchase these vehicles for their teenagers who are eager to learn to drive.
Because of their low speeds, people don’t think twice about driving or riding in these vehicles without wearing seat belts or paying attention to their surroundings. Drunk driving is common, and there have even been incidents of a parent riding in a cart with an infant child in his or her lap. All of these behaviors are incredibly dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death. For this reason, it is very important to be careful and alert when driving or riding in one of these vehicles, always observe traffic rules and posted speed limits, and wear a seat belt at all times.
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