It may come as a surprise to some, but golf carts can present a significant hazard to those around you – no matter how small and fun they are to drive! This is particularly true in places like South Florida, where the residents of the many senior living villages frequently use them to get around the neighborhood, as well as on the golf course.

Reaching speeds of 15-20 mph (and even faster, if tampered with), golf carts can pack a serious punch if they collide with somebody! Golf cart ownership has gone through the roof, in recent years, and, with more of them on the roads, the hazards associated with owning and operating these vehicles are becoming increasingly apparent.

The number of golf-cart-related injuries has surged in the last few decades. A recent four-year study conducted by the University of Alabama reported an estimate of over 15,000 golf cart injuries per annum , with fractures and head injuries being the most common casualties.

These incidents affected a wide range of people, from just 2 months to 96 years old, with those most commonly affected including males from ages 10-19 and 80+. Golf carts pose a particular threat to children under the age of 16, comprising a whopping 31.2% of all injuries caused.

While fatalities related to golf carts may often be brushed off as “freak accidents,” it is clear the danger associated with these vehicles is very real. Given that golf carts are fast becoming a mainstream method of transport outside of the golf course , operating these vehicles safely is of paramount importance when it comes to safeguarding yourself and others around you.

So, what are the main risks?

Causes of Accidents

Around half of all golf cart injuries result from people falling off or jumping from the vehicle, and the other half from collisions with pedestrians. As with all vehicles, seatbelts are essential to ensure safety, as are horns! Many golf carts run on electricity, and so they move much more quietly than cars. Horns are imperative to alert people to your presence – golf carts may be small, but they move quickly and weigh enough to cause serious injury!

Different Laws to Cars

Horns, safety belts, lights, and reflectors are standard features of all cars and are required by law. Depending on what state you are in, this may not be the case, with golf carts, but they are still absolutely essential for preserving the safety (and lives) of passengers and pedestrians. Be responsible and make sure your cart is kitted out with all the necessary safety features!

Varying Age Range/Experience of Drivers

Drivers often don’t even need a driving license to operate a golf cart and can be as young as 13 (again, depending on the laws of the state). With no guarantee as to the competency of the driver, it is important for pedestrians to be aware of the presence of golf carts at all times.

False Sense of Security

Golf carts are so much fun to drive – they’re small, they’re zippy, and they typically don’t reach anything near the breakneck speed of cars. All of this makes them feel more like toys than full-size vehicles, so it’s easy to see why people can get a little cavalier about their driving technique when they get behind the wheel.

This is a common but dangerous mentality that accounts for a great number of injuries and accidents, and it can lead to the reckless driving that causes collisions, rollovers, and ejection from the vehicle.

This false sense of security can also apply to pedestrians, who may be less cautious about walking around in the proximity of carts than they are with cars, which increases the risk of getting hit. Operators of golf carts should always be aware of this, and a horn is a simple and effective way to alert people to the dangers of your vehicle.

Final Thoughts

Golf carts are, undoubtedly, a convenient, inexpensive, and fun way to get around, whether on the golf course or out on the open road. However, they are certainly not toys. By ensuring your golf cart is fully equipped with the safety features you would expect to see in any other vehicle, you are safeguarding those around you.

Horns are an integral part of this and are essential for alerting people to the presence of golf carts, whether on the course or the street. The psychology of the horn could also be an effective way of encouraging people to associate golf carts with potential danger.

Currently, carts are associated far more closely with toys than with cars, but, given the prevalence of injuries, this is clearly something that needs to change. The sound of a horn is synonymous with caution, and caution should always be exercised when operating machinery that presents a potential hazard to those around you.