With Golf Cart Accidents on the Rise, how Stupid can you be in a Golf Cart?

May 6th, 2013. By AbiK

Apparently pretty stupid!

Given a top speed of around 15 miles per hour, golf carts aren’t exactly the speed racers that come to mind when you think about potentially dangerous accidents. But it’s that very image that can also create a false sense of safety for those who operate and/or ride in a golf cart.

Not all that long ago golf carts were simply that: carts used for playing golf. And they conjured up a speed demon image right up there with Fred Flintstone’s footmobile–only swapping out foot calluses for golf cleats. But with an increase in planned communities—particularly in Florida, California, Arizona, or Peachtree City, GA—as well as an increase in use on corporate and college campuses—golf carts have become more prevalent. And who ever imagined the day that homes would be built with custom golf cart garages?

Well, the increase in popularity has seemingly given way to an increase in golf cart injuries, too. According to an article in  Herald Tribune Golf (June, 2012), the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that injuries from being hit by or falling off of golf carts spiked 132 percent from 1990 to 2006. That translated to nearly 150,000 people, ranging in age from 2 months to 96 years, getting hurt in golf cart accidents over that time period.

Why the increase?

Let’s start with the fact that the golf cart is the new town cruiser—less work than a taking a bicycle; less of a pain than taking a car. But, unlike a car, in some states—Alabama, California, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Vermont—the minimum age to sit behind the golf cart wheel is thirteen. In Florida, it’s fourteen. The rest of the states put the minimum age to drive a golf cart at fifteen. That’s not to say that a teen can’t be a responsible driver. But one only needs to take a look at the above video to understand how teen stupidity can contribute to a golf cart accident.

On the flip side, there’s no maximum driving age. Of course, it’s not like every state has an age limit—or even just a vision test—for older car drivers either. But it’s a safe bet that some elderly drivers should not be putting the pedal to the metal regardless of vehicle size or speed.

Unfortunately, golf cart accidents can lead to some pretty serious injuries—including death. A sharp turn, for example, can cause passengers to fall out leading to spinal injury, fracture or concussion. But even seemingly harmless behavior like hanging a leg out over the side of the golf cart or forgetting to put the brake in the locked position when getting out of the golf cart can lead to injury as well. And it goes without saying that once alcohol and/or drugs are involved, stupidity usually follows…

So now that golf cart season is actually all seasons, golf cart safety needs to become an all-season concern as well.

 

 

Tags: Back Injury, Concussion, Golf Cart Accident, Neck Injury, Personal Injury, Spine Injury

This was posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 at 5:31 pm and is filed under Emerging Issues, Personal Injury . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.