october
2019
feature article
cational institutions avoid or reduce such costly
claims.
it to shudder and eject the passenger onto the
road, resulting in personal injuries. Total losses
exceeded $50,000.
Strategies for Managing Golf Cart Risks
Implement specific golf cart policies. Several insti-
tutions with claims relating to golf carts required
only general driver training programs before
driving any vehicle in the institution’s fleet. Au-
thorized drivers must understand the particular
risks and idiosyncrasies of operating a golf cart.
Policies should include:
a) Specific qualifications, training require-
ments, and standards individuals must
meet to become authorized golf cart drivers
b) Safety guidelines for properly operating
golf carts
c) Requirement of a driver’s license, motor
vehicle records check, and successful
completion of an annual safety
certification program
d) Completion of written and practical driver’s
tests Example: A faculty member operating
a golf cart lost control after driving over an
exposed tree root. The driver collided with
multiple pedestrians, who later filed suit
against the school. The faculty member
had received training from the golf cart
manufacturer three years earlier. The
school settled the case for $110,000.
Prohibit dangerous driving behavior. Most UE
claims were caused by a reckless or negligent
driver. Institutions should train drivers to avoid
sharp turns, speeding up and down slopes, and
other dangerous behavior.
Example: A university employee operating a golf
cart at a high speed was attempting to make a
U-turn when the cart struck the median, causing
6
WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM
Create a list of authorized routes. Golf cart-pe-
destrian accidents resulted in losses exceeding
$1.3 million. The majority of institutions that filed
claims did not have a list of approved routes on
campus for golf carts. While on campus, golf carts
should be restricted to specific pre-approved
routes, preferably in areas not heavily used by
pedestrians. Using unauthorized routes could
result in a serious accident, especially in a pedes-
trian-dense area.
Example: A student operating a golf cart headed
up a ramp to the school gym. Another student
suddenly walked in front of the moving golf cart
and was hit. The accident resulted in head and
leg injuries.
By implementing these suggested risk-manage-
ment practices, institutions can help protect golf
cart operators, passengers, pedestrians, and the
facilities where golf carts are used.
Resources
Oregon State University Golf Cart/Utility Vehicle
Policy
University of California-Irvine Guidelines for Vehi-
cles Other Than Automobiles
University of California-Irvine Map of Approved
Cart Routes
University of South Carolina-Beaufort Golf Cart &
Utility Vehicle Safety Program
EduRisk: Golf Carts on Camps
EduRisk: Injuries From Golf Carts on Campus
By Jared Costanzo, litigation prevention at educa-
tional institutions intern