Do golf carts have seat belts?

[MplsPete]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

[Garywt]

Some carts have them and others do not. We do not have them on either of our carts. When buying new if they are not already installed it is easy to have them put in. They certainly are not required and the speed limit is 20 mph.

[CarlR33]

The multi modal paths are not considered streets so no need for street legal outfitting including the seat belts, license plate and or slow moving vehicle sign, etc as shown in the video link you provided. Seeing at least one post today about people passing other carts while others are oncoming you might want them, LOL

[Bill14564]

In Florida, golf carts cannot exceed 20mph and do not require seat belts.

If the vehicle can exceed 20mph but not 25mph then it is considered to be a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV). Certain safety equipment is required for an LSV which may include seat belts.

If the vehicle can exceed 25mph then it falls into a different category.

Most golf carts do not have seat belts but many do. Some drivers would not operate one without seat belts. Many golf cart fatalities result from the driver being ejected from the cart and hitting their head - something a seat belt might prevent.

[GoRedSox!]

I have them in my Quitech, I think they were a $100 option....I don't always use them, but I'm glad they are there. My wife always buckles up.

[Utah Flyfisher]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

When we bought our cart my husband asked me about speed and seat belts. (he was in TV and I’m home) I was confused. The place you purchase the cart from asks you where you want the speed set? Mind blown. These are GOLF CARTS. Meaning not built to be side-by-sides/ATV’s 🤷🏻*♀️ So yeah I said no……no no no….. Do not have them set his cart so it can go faster. Of course poor guy was sad but really? How stupid/unsafe is speeding in a tiny little cart BUILT for slow speed on a golf course? And aren’t we retired? Am I taking crazy pills? Now that we’ve had our house there for a year and a half I can tell you: A: if you drive the speed limit YOU are the problem. B: seatbelts are a unicorn. C: if you get mashed by the friendliest people your seatbelt probably won’t help. Just drive defensively and try not to let the friendliest people affect your retirement plans. Like they have mine. Stillllllllll in cold snowy Utah with a house in TV. #snowflake?

[dhdallas]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

Traffic laws are ONLY enforceable for golf cart lanes that are a physical part of the public roadways but the stop signs & speed limits in store parking lots, HOA’s and private property like the MMP's are not legally enforceable pursuant to Florida Statute 316.006. This was confirmed to me by a Captain of the Wildwood Police Department who stated, "The Wildwood Police Department does not have enforcement for traffic on the multi-modal paths, which are strictly on the Village's property."
Therefore, traffic laws including stop signs, speed limits, & seat belt laws, on the multi-modal paths are not enforceable.

[Two Bills]

Do golf carts have seat belts?

It should be mandatory, same with any powered vehicle.
Also, motor cyclists, and bicyclists, should also be made to wear helmets.
It protects the dumbos from themselves!

[AZ SLIM]

Whether they are required or not, I recommend seat belts. There are many bad drivers out there. I have had several close calls where I had to brake hard or swerve to avoid an accident caused by someone else. Even at 15mph if you collide or roll over and hit your head or get your arm smashed it is going to hurt. I didn't wear them at first, but after so many incidents I do now and ask my passenger to do so also. I also put the arm rest down when not on the golf course. This helps to hold you in place if you swerve hard, even by mistake. Good Luck and HAVE FUN!

[asianthree]

Have them but only use on a long ride. Short ride and definitely not on the course we don’t use them.

However one of our neighbor had a disabled adult, that fell out of cart sitting on the golf course. Serious issues from the fall, seatbelt would have solved that.

Can’t quote but you will see many seatbelts not used, my guess is that drove a car in their youth without why have them in a cart

[Pondboy]

Seat belts in golf carts…..they should be standard equipment….people are careless. Have always been, will always be.

[Foxtrot]

I don't drive farther than our mail box without a seat belt. Too many distracted drivers here.

[ThirdOfFive]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)
"Based on CPSC statistics, roughly 40% of golf car accidents involve a person falling out of the car, and many of these accidents involve young children. In addition to ejection accidents, approximately 10% of golf car accidents involve a rollover and statistics indicate that such accidents are roughly twice as likely to lead to injuries requiring a hospital stay as non-rollover accidents." ("Golf Cart Occupant Ejections" Technology Associates Website)

Our cart didn't have seat belts when we bought it, but Amazon has one-size-fits-most seat belt kits (I think I paid $45) and a half hour with a drill and a wrench did the trick. We always wear them when traveling in the cart.

[Dusty_Star]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

You can get them for your carts & probably should.

[ThirdOfFive]

Do golf carts have seat belts?

It should be mandatory, same with any powered vehicle.
Also, motor cyclists, and bicyclists, should also be made to wear helmets.
It protects the dumbos from themselves!
Agree that manufacturers should be mandated to install seat belts in golf carts but whether or not people choose to them (or helmets on bicycles or motorcycles) should be left up to them. I rode motorcycles for many years prior to my move to TV and always wore a helmet. I have two brothers on the other hand who have ridden for as long or longer and never wear helmets. We all knew the risks.

[MrFlorida]

They are not required, but I won't go anywhere without using them. You can have them installed if you don't have them, a wise move.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

My husband's Yamaha doesn't have them. My Club Car does. I use mine. Too many cart drivers have carts because they lost their license to drive a car. If their family/doctor/the state can't trust them behind the wheel of a car, then I think I'm justified in wanting extra caution, knowing that those same people are behind the wheel of a golf cart.

[jpvillager]

Most comments refer to the driver. At least the driver has the steering wheel but not much for passengers to hang on. More important is the passengers. A fall results in hitting your head. A quick left turn ejected a friend. Caught my wife asleep which is a sure way to fall out. I immediately installed seat belts. Might even be a liability risk.

[bsloan1960]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
() They can be installed for about $160 parts and labor. During our lifestyle visit we had a cart without belts. My wife hit the breaks going around a corner and I nearly slid out. If you would use a seat belt during a 5-10 mile drive in your car, then you should use a seat belt in a 10 mile ride in a cart. In a car you are protected on all 4 sides- yet you wear a seat belt. In a cart you have Zero protection. If your 20 mile per hour cart is hit by another 20 mile per hour cart head-on that's a 40 mile per hour crash with no seat belt. Enough said.

[Topspinmo]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

It and accessory added just like lights, sun roofs, 10 inch wheels dash with locking glove boxed, rear seats ect….

[Topspinmo]

Seat belts in golf carts…..they should be standard equipment….people are careless. Have always been, will always be.


Just cause they are there don’t mean they will use them. Some people won’t use seat belts in cars cause the rug their shoulders or pinch their bellies. And no I am NOT one of them, but know few that don’t.

[westernrider75]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

Ours did not come with seat belts but we recently had them installed and we use them everywhere except the golf course. We didn’t live this long to finally make it to retirement to get injured because of not wearing them. There are some really bad golf cart drivers out there!

[Federspiel]

My best friend's wife rolled their golf cart and fortunately had belts.
Immediately thereafter, I had them installed in my 10 years old Yamaha.

[Professor]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

They can be added at The Villages Golf Cart shops. When we got our cart back in 2011 my wife insisted that for our anniversary she wanted seat belts installed after the fact. She got them. I frankly don't like driving without them anymore.

[jrref]

When we bought our cart my husband asked me about speed and seat belts. (he was in TV and I’m home) I was confused. The place you purchase the cart from asks you where you want the speed set? Mind blown. These are GOLF CARTS. Meaning not built to be side-by-sides/ATV’s ������������*♀️ So yeah I said no……no no no….. Do not have them set his cart so it can go faster. Of course poor guy was sad but really? How stupid/unsafe is speeding in a tiny little cart BUILT for slow speed on a golf course? And aren’t we retired? Am I taking crazy pills? Now that we’ve had our house there for a year and a half I can tell you: A: if you drive the speed limit YOU are the problem. B: seatbelts are a unicorn. C: if you get mashed by the friendliest people your seatbelt probably won’t help. Just drive defensively and try not to let the friendliest people affect your retirement plans. Like they have mine. Stillllllllll in cold snowy Utah with a house in TV. #snowflake?


There was a story in the Villages News a couple of days ago about two people in a golf cart without seatbelts who hit a car and got head injuries because they went through the golf cart wind shield as a result of the crash. 20 mph sounds slow but when you hit something solid or moving at the right angle your goft cart can be very dangerous without seat belts. On another note, we also hear the story of the man and wife leaving Brownwood drunk and the husband makes a turn too sharp and the wife is ejected from the cart becasue there were no seat belts only to hit her head and die or get some other serious injury. And using the arm rest to keep you in the cart will not work either. That will snap like a toothpick during a very sharp turn or a collision.

[bowlingal]

people die in golf cart accidents. This is a no brainer. Do you want to live or die?

[MidWestIA]

Can be added and new option there have been people that flipped the cart due to speed and curb and hit head to get brain damage

Going downhill 20 hit breaks fast the cart gets squirrely and flips I friend broke his arm

[FredMitchell]

Newton's laws are enforced everywhere. If your cart does not have them, it would be smart to install them and use them.

[Boffin]

Unless there is a memorandum of agreement in place between the owner, in this case the Villages, and the policing agency wherein the owner agrees to allow the policing agency access for the purpose of enforcement.

[phojo]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

Although not required, seatbelts on golf carts are a good idea. Most injuries happen when the driver or passenger is thrown from the cart in a collision.

[Happy Snowbird]

Why wouldn't you want seatbelts in a vehicle with basically no protection? Our golf carts don't move until everyone is buckled. Read the accidents where occupant(s) are thrown out.

[Indydealmaker]

Traffic laws are ONLY enforceable for golf cart lanes that are a physical part of the public roadways but the stop signs & speed limits in store parking lots, HOA’s and private property like the MMP's are not legally enforceable pursuant to Florida Statute 316.006. This was confirmed to me by a Captain of the Wildwood Police Department who stated, "The Wildwood Police Department does not have enforcement for traffic on the multi-modal paths, which are strictly on the Village's property."
Therefore, traffic laws including stop signs, speed limits, & seat belt laws, on the multi-modal paths are not enforceable.
Important to note that street legal carts are not allowed on multi-modal paths. So, a mute point. But, for golf carts, a multi-modal cannot generally be reached without use of public roads. So, speed capability will be enforceable.

[Bill14564]

Important to note that street legal carts are not allowed on multi-modal paths. So, a mute point. But, for golf carts, a multi-modal cannot generally be reached without use of public roads. So, speed capability will be enforceable.

Where did you get that idea?

[Indydealmaker]

Where did you get that idea?

Street legals are legally Low Speed Vehicles. Vehicles are not allowed on multi-modal paths per The Villages website.

[NoMo50]

We have seat belts in both of our carts, and wouldn't think of not using them. I have personal knowledge of 4 golf cart wrecks where the driver and passenger were not wearing seat belts. These 4 crashes had the following in common: 1. All were single cart crashes involving colliding with a fixed object. 2. All were relatively slow speed crashes, well under 20mpn. 3. All involved the driver and/or passenger being ejected from the golf cart. 4. All resulted in serious head trauma to the victim, requiring hospitalization.

There are no doubt countless other examples. We are all adults here, and certainly free to make our own choices. I choose being safe.

[Boffin]

Important to note that street legal carts are not allowed on multi-modal paths. So, a mute point. But, for golf carts, a multi-modal cannot generally be reached without use of public roads. So, speed capability will be enforceable.

Unless there is a memorandum of agreement in place between the owner, in this case the Villages, and the policing agency wherein the owner agrees to allow the policing agency access for the purpose of enforcement.

Also, there is a difference between capable of more than 20 mph and doing more than 20 mph. E.g. going downhill capable of 20 mph and doing 23 mph.

[Bill14564]

Street legals are legally Low Speed Vehicles. Vehicles are not allowed on multi-modal paths per The Villages website.

Legally, golf carts are vehicles as well. Street-legal golf carts (or low-speed vehicles) are still golf carts. Both are allowed on the MMPs.

From the Florida Statutes (emphasis added):

Section 316: GOLF CART.—A motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes.

Section 320:
“Golf cart” means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.

“Low-speed vehicle” means any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including, but not limited to, neighborhood electric vehicles.

From a July 2010 Memorandum from District Council to the District Manager concerning Multi-Modal Path usage:

Although, a golf cart can be made "street legal" upon meeting certain statutory operational and safety requirements allowing it be operated upon certain public roads it is my opinion that a street legal golf cart is still a "golf cart" for purposes of the D.O.s and is authorized by the D.O.s to utilize the paths. The D.O.s expressly allow golf carts on the districts' paths and do not make a distinction between street legal and non-street legal.

And

In view of the forgoing, a strong argument and fair interpretation of the intent of the D.O.s is that LS V's are a type of vehicle that fit within the definition of "golf cart" for purposes of establishing the permitted uses of the multi-modal paths.

[nn0wheremann]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)
I installed a set on my “turf legal” golf cart. Get the airline style with the buckle in the middle.
If the device you drive goes more than 20 mph, it is not a golf cart, but is a Low Speed Vehicle and you need a lot more than seatbelts to be “street legal”. Ask any Sheriff’s deputy.

[Rzepecki]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

Too many one golf cart accidents here because drivers are distracted. The problem is when you hit something, you get thrown from the cart, hit your head and most likely die. If you wear a seatbelt, you may get scraped up, but it’s unlikely you’ll hit your head.

[ehonour]

Traffic laws are ONLY enforceable for golf cart lanes that are a physical part of the public roadways but the stop signs & speed limits in store parking lots, HOA’s and private property like the MMP's are not legally enforceable pursuant to Florida Statute 316.006. This was confirmed to me by a Captain of the Wildwood Police Department who stated, "The Wildwood Police Department does not have enforcement for traffic on the multi-modal paths, which are strictly on the Village's property."
Therefore, traffic laws including stop signs, speed limits, & seat belt laws, on the multi-modal paths are not enforceable.

All true. However, if on the way to that MMP you drive on a neighborhood street, or in the golf cart lane of a secondary street, then you are indeed subject to the laws. The local police have issued tickets for failure to stop at a stop sign, speeding (i.e, over 20mph), and operating a non-licensed Low Speed Vehicle (i.e. for operating a normal golf cart over 20mph, thereby proving that it is subject to the LSV requirements). That last one can get rather expensive.

[Dexterconfetti]

Three point Seat belt (shoulder loop). Do not want to be tossed. Always buckled.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Three point Seat belt (shoulder loop). Do not want to be tossed. Always buckled.

Most golf carts don't have frames that will support a shoulder belt.

[Topspinmo]

people die in golf cart accidents. This is a no brainer. Do you want to live or die?


People die in all forms accidents, but I agree it’s safer and reduces chances of bad injuries.

[Chi-Town]

Some carts have them and others do not. We do not have them on either of our carts. When buying new if they are not already installed it is easy to have them put in. They certainly are not required and the speed limit is 20 mph.

Just curious, why do you not have them?

[Normal]

Searching images, I see very few with seat belts.
This website suggests you must have them, if top speed is over 20: https://streetlegalgolfcartrentals.com/street-legal-golf-carts-do-you-have-to-wear-a-seatbelt/
(During our Lifestyle Visit, we did not have belts.)

We do have seatbelts on our cart. That said, we have used them likely less than a dozen times?

I ponder on the need. Do motorcycles have seat belts? Would I rather be tethered to a cart if I was hit by a truck? The seat belt issue kind of goes with the double standards of society’s laws. Like I can ride a bicycle almost anywhere even on the main road, but I can’t drive my golf cart there.

[Bill14564]

Just curious, why do you not have them?

They didn't come with one of our carts and we have yet to use them even once on the cart that does have them. I guess we're playing the odds while considering our driving abilities. We slow down for curves, watch for oncoming carts, don't turn in front of an automobile, and don't have health problems that would cause us to drive straight into a tunnel wall. We can't do anything about being broadsided by a car or truck but the odds of that are low and I wonder how much a belt would help in that situation anyway.

Could be a poor choice on our part, but it's the choice we are making.

We do have seatbelts on our cart. That said, we have used them likely less than a dozen times?

I ponder on the need. Do motorcycles have seat belts? Would I rather be tethered to a cart if I was hit by a truck? The seat belt issue kind of goes with the double standards of society’s laws. Like I can ride a bicycle almost anywhere even on the main road, but I can’t drive my golf cart there.

Since there is no external structure to protect them, most motorcyclists and bicyclists wear helmets to protect their skulls. Perhaps that should be a requirement for golf carts too.

Double standards often in the blurry eyes of those who behold them. Pedestrians and bicyclists have been allowed to use most public roadways since before automobiles or golf carts were invented. Conflating bicycles with golf carts ignores the obvious difference between them: one is human-powered and rarely reaches 20mph while the other is motorized and is frequently not limited to reach only 20mph. (E-bikes can be argued in another thread) There are different standards because bicycles and golf carts are significantly different vehicle types; seeing a double standard requires ignoring that.

[Normal]

They didn't come with one of our carts and we have yet to use them even once on the cart that does have them. I guess we're playing the odds while considering our driving abilities. We slow down for curves, watch for oncoming carts, don't turn in front of an automobile, and don't have health problems that would cause us to drive straight into a tunnel wall. We can't do anything about being broadsided by a car or truck but the odds of that are low and I wonder how much a belt would help in that situation anyway.

Could be a poor choice on our part, but it's the choice we are making.

Great points, but I rarely see golf carts with metal outer structure. Many are just plastic or fiberglass. It might be better to be thrown from a cart than sticking with it?


Since there is no external structure to protect them, most motorcyclists and bicyclists wear helmets to protect their skulls. Perhaps that should be a requirement for golf carts too.

Double standards often in the blurry eyes of those who behold them. Pedestrians and bicyclists have been allowed to use most public roadways since before automobiles or golf carts were invented. Conflating bicycles with golf carts ignores the obvious difference between them: one is human-powered and rarely reaches 20mph while the other is motorized and is frequently not limited to reach only 20mph. (E-bikes can be argued in another thread) There are different standards because bicycles and golf carts are significantly different vehicle types; seeing a double standard requires ignoring that.

Great points, but I rarely see golf carts with metal outer structure. Many are just plastic or fiberglass. It might be better to be thrown from a cart than sticking with it for the duration of the collision?

[billsr]

I was hit by a car in my golf cart. The golf cart overturned. My seat belt saved my life. I will not ride in a golf cart without a seatbelt. BTW, there is not enough time to jump out. It happens too quickly. Also, I could not jump because it flipped on the driver's side.