Children driving golf carts

[mac]

It is vacation time again. The other day I was nearly sideswiped by a golf cart passing me going in excess of 20 mph (not a street legal cart) driven by a youngster with 'gramps' in the passenger seat.

I hope that most of us are more responsible than that but obviously some still need to be reminded that golf carts are vehicles not toys. Would they allow children to drive their car?? Then don't endanger my life by putting children in the driver's seat of the golf cart!!

[memason]

from reading all the posts about bad drivers, both car and carts, I'm starting to wonder if it's safe to live in TV.

These post sounds as if the traffic is life threatening...

[pooh]

from reading all the posts about bad drivers, both car and carts, I'm starting to wonder if it's safe to live in TV.

These post sounds as if the traffic is life threatening...

LOL....I'm beginning to wonder, too!

Guess when we first got here, traffic seemed so calm and it felt like there were fewer cars than in CA....but now, with more villages opening, seasonal residents enjoying their Florida homes and grandkids visiting :a040:, (mine are here today) it is a bit more crowded than in the summer.
When you visit, it should be better.... :) ...and the pollen count could be down, too.

[Talk Host]

In my opinion, grandchildren being allowed to drive golf carts is one of the most serious problems we have in the Villages. I'm afraid that a tragedy will bring the problem into focus one of these days.

[BogeyBoy]

In my opinion, grandchildren being allowed to drive golf carts is one of the most serious problems we have in the Villages. I'm afraid that a tragedy will bring the problem into focus one of these days.

Couldn't agree more.

I was driving my cart over the weekend when a driver coming toward me lost control/got a phone call/whatever. He crossed into my lane and was coming right at me. I had to do a extreme turn to the curb to avoid a head on crash, almost rolling the cart.

If a child had been driving my cart we would have been reading about it in the newspaper.

[BlueHeronFan]

Did I not read somewhere that a golf cart driver must be at least 14 years old to operate a golf cart in TV??

Why yes it does....
http://www.villagesgolfcartman.com/id16.html

Needless to say, some are not following the rules with visitors as I have also observed easily 10yrs and under driving in the neighborhoods with the grandparents enjoying the ride.

Probably a community watch issue.

[Bogie Shooter]

Did I not read somewhere that a golf cart driver must be at least 14 years old to operate a golf cart in TV??

Why yes it does....
http://www.villagesgolfcartman.com/id16.html

Needless to say, some are not following the rules with visitors as I have also observed easily 10yrs and under driving in the neighborhoods with the grandparents enjoying the ride.

Probably a community watch issue.
No, I think it is the person sitting beside that 10 year old driver, that is the issue.

[Halle]

Did I not read somewhere that a golf cart driver must be at least 14 years old to operate a golf cart in TV??


Probably a community watch issue.:agree:

On the annual survey I suggested that Community Watch be more willing to address people who are breaking the law, and call law enforcement if offenders are unwilling to comply with laws.

I also agree with Talk Host that it will probably take a tragedy for this serious problem to be addressed.

[paulandjean]

kids being kids

[gadaboutgal]

Children driving golf carts on our public roads is not a Community Watch issue. Community Watch has no authority to oversea the implementation of Florida laws-they are not the police. It is our local police who should get involved.

[Halle]

Children driving golf carts on our public roads is not a Community Watch issue. Community Watch has no authority to oversea the implementation of Florida laws-they are not the police. It is our local police who should get involved.

I didn't say they should enforce the law just bring it to the offenders attention, maybe they aren't aware of the law and lack the commonsense to not allow children to drive a golf cart.

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Being the kind of person I am....................when I see someone allowing a kid to drive, I open my mouth and tell them.
Last week at the Stonecrest yard sale I almost got hit by a young woman allowing her apx. 2 yr old to sit on her lap and steer the suv while she talked on her cel-phone.
She had her window down and so did I................a while later a squad car was in the area looking for her.

[Whalen]

kids being kids


Until some one is seriously indured or ...., you fill in the blank.

[Hawkwind]

This issue has come up before and almost everyone agrees that it needs to be addressed before someone really gets hurt.

If you were going to get someone "with authority" to set up a checkpoint or two where would you place it. I have seen under age driving in all areas of TV but there must be some areas with a higher percentage. The access roads to the squares maybe? Sunset Point and the bridge? The long stretch of path on both Morse and Buena Vista south of LSL? Belvedere? The Loop (Baily Trail / Odell Circle)?

[Halle]

kids being kids


Adults being irresponsible.

[KathieI]

Adults being irresponsible.

:agree::agree:

Being the kind of person I am....................when I see someone allowing a kid to drive, I open my mouth and tell them.

I do too, OBD... I've stopped them many times at the end of my street which is a cul-de-sac. Its not as bad as being on the main road but it should not be happening at all. I also believe that seat belts should be required for kids in carts, that's the first thing I did when I purchased my cart -- AND I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS!!

[spk7951]

Went from Hadley to Amberwood this afternoon and it was astonishing how many golf carts I saw that either had an under age driver or over loaded cart with 3, 4 or even 5 kids in it along with gramps and even a couple of cases with what probably was the parents. I certainly hope we do not see a bad accident because one of these kids will really get hurt.

[dillywho]

But, I'll say it again. If the irresponsibility and insanity keeps up until someone does get hurt/killed, it could spell the end of our 'golf cart community' as we know it. It is a privilege, not a right, and as such could be lost.

I, for one, don't want to lose that privilege over someone else's selfishness and stupidity.

[Pturner]

Spring Break. We'll all have to be extra careful.