Golf Cart Accidents
 

We are down in the Villages for a few days and getting a feel for things. We rented a golf cart, and have been looking around at homes and such.

In the last two days there have been two golf cart accidents. One was on Morse last night which caused the golf cart to be on its side and the people being taken away by ambulance (we were driving in our car at the time), and the other one was by a path off 466 (we were in our golf cart and had to be directed around the incident).

I pray that everyone involved were OK, but the accidents looked awful to us. It has us wondering how often are there accidents around the villages, "car vs golf cart" or "golf cart vs golf cart"? It really showed us how dangerous riding in the cart can be.

We saw someone else driving with another adult and two children in the cart -all in the front seat. All we kept thinking was what would have happened if they were involved in a similiar accident........

To put it quite bluntly we have some idiots living here. Who drive too fast, and think the world revolves around them. They are bound to end up in an accident. No different than anywhere else.

I know accidents happen everywhere. I have gone back on previous posts regarding incidents and have found that once people start talking about one, others discuss another they have seen.

I was just wondering about the numbers. I'm sure the police keep statistics, but are they reported somewhere? If reported to the public would it aid in keeping people aware of the dangers - or would people just ignore the stats and say "it will never happen to me".

All I can say is it sure made me very aware of my surroundings, and had me a wee bit nervous when driving down Morse. I dare say in a car vs cart, the car will win every time.....

So my advice to all who are doing the lifestyle preview or renting a cart - be careful and remember the carts are not like driving on your hometown golf course...they can be very dangerous and you could be hurt if you don't watch out for others and obey the rules.....

Defensive Driving, Always give the other guy the right of way when in a cart.

Highway deaths
 

It really is no big deal. In 2008 ther were over 37,000 highway deaths in the U.S. That is lower than in the past because of higher fuel prices resulting in less driving miles. In the past it was over 41,000.

So it is a big deal if you are in an accident. But in the overall picture not such a worry. Driving a car or walking accross the street is probabbly more dangerous.

I, on the other hand, think it is a big deal. 37,000 dead people (families changed forever) is no small matter. Highway accidents and golf cart accidents are two completely separate things. There are thousands of golf carts criss crossing the streets and paths in The Villages. Some of the drivers have souped up carts, others are legally blind and have lost their drivers license. Then, there are the random idiots. There are people who have never driven before and plenty of people who think the golf carts have the right of way. The majority are normal people with normal driving habits driving in a mine field.

It is true that the most people will not be involved in an accident, but with a citizenry made up of aging individuals, may of who feel a false send of entitlement, it makes sense that there will be a disproportionate number of accidents.

I think most people in The Villages believe that they will not be involved in a golf cart mishap. I also think that it is a high risk endeavor and that many people don't manage that risk properly.

I am sorry
 

I didn't mean 37,000 people who died on the highways was no big deal, it is. I was trying to show that everything is relative. I think there are too many things to worry yourself about and that golf cart accidents are very low on the radar.

That's just my opinion.

golf cart
 

agree, do not see a real problem.there are about 35000 golf carts here in the villages.do not see much of a problem.

Unfortunately, oot, we really do not have an answer to your question "It has us wondering how often are there accidents around the villages". The Villages Daily does not seem keen on reporting them. The fact that you witnessed two of them on consecutive days during your short visit concerns me as it did you. I hope your post here brings out some replies of other cart accidents.
I am personally aware of so few my guess is it is not a major problem.

To quote Madison Avenue, you have "run it up the flag pole now let's see who salutes".

Cell Phones, Texting While Driving Golf Carts
 

Wonder how many people involved in golf cart accidents were on their cell phone oblivious to their main purpose: get from A to B safely!

The only way you are going to get a rough idea of the number of golf cart accidents is to talk to the people who repair the damage.

When I picked up my Par Car in Leesburg at the factory, the manager there told me that there is a steady stream of carts coming in that have been damaged in accidents. There were at least 15 of them in the shop with some kind of repair going on.....mostly fenders.

I personally witnessed my former neighbor drive "full speed" down our street, up his driveway and smack into his "closed" garage door. The impact was so violent that his cart bounced all the way back into the street. The garage door was ruined and the cart had over a thousand dollars damage. One accident doesn't make an epidemic though.

Dumb is as dumb does.

Lucky for you the neighbor is former. That sounds like a truely dangerous individual. If he is back in town can you shout out a warning.

Brilliant, fnally this is where a gas cart would have a leg up. The noise of the engine would make it impossible to use a cell phone thus it would be safer.

Many of the lawyers in the area around The Villages offer the information that they specialize in golf cart litigation. This leads me to believe that golf cart accidents are much more prevalent and serious than we realize.