With its reputation as a golfer’s paradise, it should probably come as no surprise that the Sunshine State has more golf courses than any other state in the country. According to the National Golf Foundation, there are 1,050 courses in Florida; only California with 920 comes close to matching the number of courses here. The foundation also claims that there are over 25 million golfers in the U.S.
With that many golfers, particularly in states like Florida with its favorable year-round climate and emphasis on outdoor recreation, a lot of folks zipping around in golf carts shouldn’t be surprising, either. It might surprise you to learn, however, just how common serious golf cart injuries have become.
Each year, there are approximately 13,000 golf cart-related accidents that require emergency room visits, and that number is rising, according to data compiled by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. About 40 percent of those accidents involve children younger than 16. Half result from kids falling out of a moving cart. That is a highly disproportionate number of young people getting hurt when you consider that most golf carts are still used by adults on golf courses.
According to an article in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the rate of injury related to golf cart accidents rose more than 130 percent from 1990 to 2006. During this period, about 147,000 golf cart-related injuries were reported involving people as old as 96 years and as young as two months.
One problem is that golf carts aren’t just being driven on golf courses as intended these days. In many gated and retirement communities, which are prevalent here in Florida, golf carts have become a primary means of transportation. They also are used for transportation purposes at airports, hospitals, military bases, parks, sporting events and college campuses.
Another concern is that golf carts have become much faster and more powerful these days. Some can reach over 25 mph and can travel more than 40 miles on a single battery charge.
Most golf carts are not subject to federal regulation. State and local regulations for golf carts vary from region to region. In Florida, anyone over age 14 may drive a golf cart without a driver’s license. No seat belts or other safety features are required, although driving is restricted to streets approved for golf carts by local municipalities.
The most common cause for golf cart accidents happens when a driver takes the cart off the road and makes too sharp of a turn or hits a curb or bump in the road, causing the cart to tip or rollover and unrestrained riders to fall out of the golf cart.
Accidents also happen as a result of driver negligence if a golf cart driver is not properly trained, intoxicated, speeding or in any way driving the cart in a reckless manner.
Golf carts simply aren’t manufactured as soundly and are not equipped with the same safety features as other vehicles. They’re not stable enough to prevent a rollover, nor can they brake as steadily as a car or truck.
One golf cart manufacturer, Club Car LLC, recently recalled its 2013 models due to improper assembly that can cause the front wheel spindles to crack, affecting steering and posing a crash hazard. If a driver is injured while operating a defective golf cart, it’s a good idea to discuss the accident with the knowledgeable Florida product liability lawyer.
For most, golf carts are a fun, safe and inexpensive mode of transportation – if used with caution and common sense. But unique dangers exist, particularly if you are sharing the road with cars and other vehicles. Florida’s traffic laws apply to golf carts as well as cars, so be sure to be familiar with them before operating a golf cart.
With its reputation as a golfer’s paradise, it should probably come as no surprise that the Sunshine State has more golf courses than any other state in the country. According to the National Golf Foundation, there are 1,050 courses in Florida; only California with 920 comes close to matching the number of courses here. The foundation also claims that there are over 25 million golfers in the U.S.
With that many golfers, particularly in states like Florida with its favorable year-round climate and emphasis on outdoor recreation, a lot of folks zipping around in golf carts shouldn’t be surprising, either. It might surprise you to learn, however, just how common serious golf cart injuries have become.
Each year, there are approximately 13,000 golf cart-related accidents that require emergency room visits, and that number is rising, according to data compiled by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. About 40 percent of those accidents involve children younger than 16. Half result from kids falling out of a moving cart. That is a highly disproportionate number of young people getting hurt when you consider that most golf carts are still used by adults on golf courses.
According to an article in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the rate of injury related to golf cart accidents rose more than 130 percent from 1990 to 2006. During this period, about 147,000 golf cart-related injuries were reported involving people as old as 96 years and as young as two months.
One problem is that golf carts aren’t just being driven on golf courses as intended these days. In many gated and retirement communities, which are prevalent here in Florida, golf carts have become a primary means of transportation. They also are used for transportation purposes at airports, hospitals, military bases, parks, sporting events and college campuses.
Another concern is that golf carts have become much faster and more powerful these days. Some can reach over 25 mph and can travel more than 40 miles on a single battery charge.
Most golf carts are not subject to federal regulation. State and local regulations for golf carts vary from region to region. In Florida, anyone over age 14 may drive a golf cart without a driver’s license. No seat belts or other safety features are required, although driving is restricted to streets approved for golf carts by local municipalities.
The most common cause for golf cart accidents happens when a driver takes the cart off the road and makes too sharp of a turn or hits a curb or bump in the road, causing the cart to tip or rollover and unrestrained riders to fall out of the golf cart.
Accidents also happen as a result of driver negligence if a golf cart driver is not properly trained, intoxicated, speeding or in any way driving the cart in a reckless manner.
Golf carts simply aren’t manufactured as soundly and are not equipped with the same safety features as other vehicles. They’re not stable enough to prevent a rollover, nor can they brake as steadily as a car or truck.
One golf cart manufacturer, Club Car LLC, recently recalled its 2013 models due to improper assembly that can cause the front wheel spindles to crack, affecting steering and posing a crash hazard. If a driver is injured while operating a defective golf cart, it’s a good idea to discuss the accident with the knowledgeable Florida product liability lawyer.
For most, golf carts are a fun, safe and inexpensive mode of transportation – if used with caution and common sense. But unique dangers exist, particularly if you are sharing the road with cars and other vehicles. Florida’s traffic laws apply to golf carts as well as cars, so be sure to be familiar with them before operating a golf cart.
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