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It’s September already. Summer BBQs are be-
ing replaced by back-to-school and the smell
of fall is in the air. When my oldest two chil-
dren were in elementary school, this time of
year meant that I would cruise them over to
school in our custom golf car and wait in the
parent drop off line. Back then, we were the
only family in the parent drop off line in a golf
car and my kids felt so cool. Today, parent
drop off lines around the country have scores
of golf cars. It is not uncommon for teens to
zip through neighborhoods in golf cars and
many communities are transitioning to “golf
car friendly” status. It’s true- golf cars aren’t
just for the course anymore. Parents have
been golf car innovators and have turned
them into the family people mover. Perfect
for hauling beach gear, sports equipment,
and zipping around to the pool or at family
events golf cars are now a necessity for many
families.
With the increased and diversified use of
golf cars over the past decade last comes
an inevitable increase in golf car accidents,
particularly among children. According to a
study published by the New England Journal
of Preventative Medicine, the number of golf
car related injuries is on the rise and approxi-
mately one third involve children.
State, local, and community laws and safety
regulations are struggling to catch up with
the explosive use of golf cars. It is time to
10
WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM
Brush Up on Back
to School Golf Car
Safety
By Julie Starr, Owner
WHEELZ Custom Carts & Accessories
brush up on some back to school golf car safety be-
cause it is important that we all do our part.
Understand the Law
Do you own a golf car or an LSV? Technically speak-
ing, golf cars and LSVs aren’t the same and are reg-
ulated differently. While a standard golf car typically
reaches a maximum speed of 18mph and does not
always have safety features, LSVs are equipped with
seat belts and brake lights, etc. In Virginia, for ex-
ample, golf cars may only be driven during daylight
hours unless equipped with proper safety features.
They may only be driven on roads where the speed
limit is 25mph or less. An LSV has a maximum speed
of about 25 miles per hour and comes with standard
safety equipment and therefore may be driven on
highways with a speed limit of 35mph or less. Every
jurisdiction is different, so understand the law be-
fore you hit the streets.
It Isn’t a Car
Although golf cars make for great people movers,
they aren’t cars. They do not handle roadways as
smoothly as cars and they have a much greater
chance of flipping over. In most cases, golf cars and
LSVs only have rear axle brakes. Be cautious when
cruising down hills or making turns.
Enforce Clear Rules
We all understand the dangers of hitting the pave-
ment after falling off our bikes. Children typically