Why Golf Carts Are Dangerous
Posted by
Drew DixonJune 23, 2008 4:27 PMTags:
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According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, golf-cart related injuries have soared. The study found that the number of golf cart related trips to the emergency room increased from an estimated 5,772 in 1990 to 13,411 in 2006.
With the price of gasoline at record levels the popularity of golf carts has soared. The battery-powered carts have proven to be a cheap, energy efficient mode of transportation. Golf-carts are commonly seen at sporting events, hospitals, national parks, college campuses, and of course retirement communities and neighborhoods.
The average speed of a factory golf-cart is between 25 and 30 miles per hour, and some after market kits can even make carts faster. But most carts still lack basic safety equipment like seat belts and side rails.
Because the highest injury rates were among males ages 10 to 19, the study suggested a minimum driving age of 16, braking slowly, and wearing a helmet while riding.
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