How to Teach Golf Cart Safety to Children
Golf carts make a day on the links less physically demanding and a lot more fun. In fact, some days the cart ride is more fun than the game itself! It’s also a convenient place for youngsters to get out of the sun and a great opportunity to help your kids grow up to become defensive drivers. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re letting your children drive a golf cart. To learn more, come see us at Revel 42 - Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina, serving Leland and Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
Golf Carts Don’t Have Many Safety Features
One common mistake parents make is assuming that letting kids drive a golf cart is just like letting them ride a bike. Golf carts don’t require a driver’s license and they don’t operate at high rates of speed. But they also don’t include airbags, anti-lock brakes or side-impact protection. One of the biggest risks that young golf cart riders face is being ejected from the cart in a collision. Even a low-speed collision can result in a broken limb or a traumatic brain injury.
Golf Carts Aren’t Always Street Legal
Golf carts are similar to cars in several ways, there are some key differences. They were designed to transport people around large open spaces without traffic, and most models don’t have the advanced suspension and braking systems needed to drive on the roads. Residential areas adjacent to golf courses and gated communities have blurred a lot of the traditional lines, but you should typically err on the side of caution and keep carts off the roads. Some golf carts come street-legal or can be modified for street driving, but verify with local laws what exactly that means.
If your community allows residents to ride carts on the street, you should be behind the wheel until you feel like your children are seasoned enough to handle a little light traffic. Be sure that they also always understand where they will and won’t have the right of way.
How to Lower Your Risk of an Accident?
Even highly responsible and conscientious children should be supervised at all times when they’re behind the wheel. Only you can effectively determine when they’ve demonstrated the experience and maturity to operate a golf cart safely, but it’s strictly a judgment call until they have their driver’s license. If you already own a golf cart, you can upgrade your braking systems and add lights and reflectors. You can also purchase kid’s golf carts with a top speed of 5 mph or less.
To see our current inventory of new and pre-owned golf carts for sale visit Revel 42 - Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina. We serve golfers in Leland and Carolina Beach, North Carolina.