People who’re thinking about buying a golf cart find themselves questioning its safety on the roads.
It IS legal to drive a golf cart on the streets of Florida and other states; however, not everyone’s convinced they’re safe.
We doubt the safety of golf carts because they don’t have covered exteriors, but cars are enclosed, and yet in the US, around 3 million people incur non-fatal injuries in car accidents every year. Compared to the estimated 15,000 – 18,000 golf cart injuries in the US, cars are clearly a bigger hazard.
Like with any vehicle on the road, drivers and passengers must follow safety procedures to prevent injuries.
Here’s everything you need to know about golf cart safety:
Cars and Motorcycles Aren’t Safer Than Golf Carts
According to the National Safety Council, 38,000 people in the US lost their lives in car accidents in 2015; another 4,967 died in motorcycle accidents.
The NHTSA claims that speeding is the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in the country. Cars and motorcycles are much faster than golf carts, making them harder to control. They’re also much larger than golf carts, so it’s more difficult to make quick turns when needed.
Golf Carts are Only Allowed On Specific Roads
In Florida and several other states, golf carts can only be taken on “golf cart roads.” These smaller roads don’t get much traffic. Drivers of low-speed vehicles like golf carts can take them on these roads without worrying about holding up traffic.
Golf carts don’t typically go above 20 mph; if a pedestrian needs to cross the road, they can be stopped without any trouble.
Golf Cart Safety Features
You may think golf carts aren’t safe, but they’re built with plenty of safety features that can help them stand out on the road and keep drivers and passengers safe.
Some of these safety features include:
- Headlamps
- Parking brakes
- Rearview mirrors
- Reflex reflectors
- Seatbelts
- Stop lamps
- Taillamps
- Turn signal lamps
- Vehicle identification numbers
- Windshields
Note that these are the standard safety features of all well-made golf carts; you can always customize your golf cart to make it safer.
SWFL Golf Carts offers complete maintenance and customization services for golf carts in Bonita Springs and other parts of Florida.
We’re one of the most reputable golf cart dealers in town. Check out our inventory online and buy a golf cart or have our team build a custom golf cart that meets your needs.
Contact us for more information on our golf carts and financing options.