Common Problems With Golf Carts
Golf carts, sometimes referred to as "golf cars," are small, motorized vehicles typically driven by golfers between holes on a golf course. Often, golf carts will be used in placed of caddies, with the golfers' bags stored in a compartment in the back of the cart. While the carts are useful, a number of problems are commonly associated with them. Increased accidents with golf carts have been tied to both increases in their top speed and more frequent use of the vehicles off the golf course.
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Speed
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According to the New York Times, newer models of golf carts can reach up to 25 mph, which may be a factor in the rise in the number of accidents in recent years. Despite the speed the vehicles can attain, a driver's license usually is not required to drive one.
Safety Features
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Golf carts are generally light, stripped-down vehicles, often lacking the most rudimentary safety features, such as doors or seatbelts. This is because most golf carts are exempt from the safety features legally required of new automobiles. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, injuries related to golf carts rose 130 percent from 1990 to 2006.
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Collisions
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According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine article, almost 1 in 10 golf cart-related injuries occurred as a result of collisions with another vehicle or a stationary object. While about 70 percent of the injuries surveyed in the study occurred at a golf course or other recreational facility, the remaining 30 percent occurred elsewhere.
Brake Skidding
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Typically, golf carts have brakes only on their rear wheels. This makes them less effective in stopping than automobiles, with a high potential for skids, particularly when the carts are going down an incline--a feature that often occurs on golf courses.
Ejection
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According to the research firm Technology Associates, one of the most common types of injury associated with golf carts occurs when passengers are thrown from the cart. This is often caused by the centrifugal force generated by a sharp left turn. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, more than a third of golf-cart-related injuries were caused by ejection from the vehicle.
Replacement Parts
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Although replacement parts are available for golf carts, they are not generally stocked at auto parts stores or body shops. Often, they will have to be ordered from the manufacturer, causing a period in which the cart cannot be used.
Charging
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According to the Golf Cart Catalog, electric-powered carts must be charged regularly. This can present some hazards. For example, the catalogs recommend you do not leave the cart charged while you are on vacation, as an electrical storm could destroy some of the electrical parts.
Inclement Weather
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Golf carts typically do not have windows or doors. This makes them especially inappropriate for driving in inclement weather. Golf carts that are powered by electric batteries also may short out in heavy rain.
Children
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Golf carts are not designed to transport children, says Lara B. McKenzie of the Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center for Injury Research and Policy. Although children frequently ride in or drive the vehicles, McKenzie says they present a hazard to child safety.
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References
Resources
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