[memason]

Unfortunately, one size doesn't fit all here. I suspect there are some kids that would be a menace, in a cart, at 18. I personally think 14 is a good age for the kids to begin learning how to drive and a golf cart is a good way to start, in my opinion. Not without supervision, mind you, but time to learn.

Lets be honest here... How many of you DID NOT drive a car until you were old enough; whether 16 or more???

[K9-Lovers]

We witnesses several teenage boys doing spins and wheelies in the sandy soil at Paradise Park in grandpa's cart. When I firmly said, "Oh no, you get out of here." They sped off without looking back. If these grandparents knew what was happening to their (sometimes only) mode of transportation, maybe they wouldn't be so quick to hand over the wheel.

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by salpal

The other day I saw an idiot Grandpa with a 3 or 4 year old in his lap while driving his cart.

Not just Grandpa are idiots. I saw a Grandma driving a cart with about a 4 year old standing in front of her behind the wheel.

I'm convinced some people left their common sense up north with the house they sold when moving here!

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by memason

Unfortunately, one size doesn't fit all here. I suspect there are some kids that would be a menace, in a cart, at 18. I personally think 14 is a good age for the kids to begin learning how to drive and a golf cart is a good way to start, in my opinion. Not without supervision, mind you, but time to learn.

Lets be honest here... How many of you DID NOT drive a car until you were old enough; whether 16 or more???

Yes, some 18 year olds might be a menace, but nearly all 14 year olds are too young to safely drive carts in TV. As Pooh pointed out, they have not had formal driving lessons. The cart paths are windy, at places confusing and at places right beside cars. Carts are more dangerous than cars in the sense that even a low speed accident can kill. It's easy to be thrown out of a cart and not that difficult for an inexperienced driver to overturn.

In addition, elderly drivers (we do have some) and children drivers are not a great combination.

[K9-Lovers]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

Not just Grandpa are idiots. I saw a Grandma driving a cart with about a 4 year old standing in front of her behind the wheel.

I'm convinced some people left their common sense up north with the house they sold when moving here!

I saw an elderly couple driving with a very small child. Both elders were facing forward in the front seat. That small child (under 4) was in the BACK seat. I was so worried that the little one would stand and fall out, or bounce out. I couldn't see if there was a seatbelt.

THINK, people!

[bkcunningham1]

In Virginia when I got my learner's permit you had to be 15 and 8 months. We took drivers' education as part of our health/PE class in school at the appropriate age. After you got your learner's, you took behind the wheel instruction. One of our football coaches taught behind the wheel. That's another story.

I was learning to drive behind the wheel in my neighborhood at 15 with my father as my instructor. Believe me it wasn't a joy ride either. Earlier than that, one of my older brothers would let me shift gears in his car while he pushed the clutch.

My dear father is 91 and we've been discussing, behind his back, when and who will have the talk with him about not driving any longer. Any volunteers?

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by BlueHeronFan

Well here we were playing softball on Saturday when in the middle of the game we heard a crash, and wondered what happened.

Seems some young girl was driving a golf cart and must have been watching a fly ball or something while driving, and crashed right into the fence of the Polo Field. Nobody appeared hurt, but if you see broken fence boards, that is what happened.

Who in the world determined that 14 was an age that would be allowed to drive golf carts around in The Villages, and on the roads not on the multi mode paths. Somebody is going to get KILLED some day.

Frankly, I feel if you don't have a drivers license, then one should not be able to drive the golf carts in The Villages. For crying out loud, these kids are on streets with cars. Sometimes with 4 kids in the front seats.

I was playing ball that day also. I thought I saw an adult women driving. The a man backed the cart away from the broken fence and drove off

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Yes, some 18 year olds might be a menace, but nearly all 14 year olds are too young to safely drive carts in TV.

I've often seen kids younger than 14 years old driving carts. I've seen kids make abrupt turns across oncoming vehicle traffic. Often with a bunch of other kids standing up in the cart.

I am always so sad when I see the reckless behavior. Kids think they are invincible. But parents and grandparents must take responsibility.

[happy employee]

Being the father of three teen-aged girls, i agree that 15 is too young to be driving unsupervised. car, golfcart, or segway!!!!! however, the 14 age limit is set by the florida legislature, not TV. why don't you give Marleen O'Toole a shout and see if you get a response.

[rhsgypsylady]

I agree. No one without a driver license should be able to drive golf carts. They are not a toy! I would think for safety reasons The Villages police departments should put a stop to such and issue fines to the parents/grandparents allowing those without license to drive. I also think insurance should be carried on ALL golf carts just as if they were a street legal vehicle (whether they are or not).

[Talk Host]

My wife and I followed a golf cart, driving in the middle of the street. It was being operated by a middle teen boy. There was another middle teen boy sitting on the passenger side. There was a middle teen boy standing on the back step where your golf clubs go, facing foward.

The driver was swerving back and forth, back and forth, trying to dump the boy in the back. We were right behind them in a 2 ton SUV.

At the first stop, I pulled up next to them and asked the name of their grandparents. They refused to tell me. I said, "never mind, I'll just follow you till you get to their house."

They zoomed around street after street, and finally found a way to slip onto a golf course and I lost them.

[redwitch]

Originally Posted by rhsgypsylady

I agree. No one without a driver license should be able to drive golf carts. They are not a toy! I would think for safety reasons The Villages police departments should put a stop to such and issue fines to the parents/grandparents allowing those without license to drive. I also think insurance should be carried on ALL golf carts just as if they were a street legal vehicle (whether they are or not).

Several problems here. As was said previously, it is State law. So long as the youngster is not on a public streeet, there's not much the police can do about it -- any more than they can give speeding tickets to those on golf cart paths. Insurance would be nice, but, again, is an issue for the State to take up. Of course, that means the golf cart will have to be registered, which would be another fee.

Personally, I don't mind a child driving the cart through a neighborhood that has little traffic with an adult in the cart as well. I do mind, tremendously, seeing a kid driving on Morse or around the squares or anywhere there is heavy traffic. I mind seeing youngsters driving on the golf cart paths because there is a bit of traffic, crossing of streets, etc.

Having said this, there is no way my grandson would be allowed to drive my cart before he was 14 (especially not on my lap). At 14, he would have to be fully supervised by me and it would only be where I know there is light traffic. Driving alone would be determined by how I felt he was handling the cart, watching traffic, willingness to follow rules (mine and traffic), etc.; it would have nothing to do with his simply being over 14 and everything to do with his level of maturity and driving ability of a cart.

When we first moved here, my daughter had her license and was well over the age of 14 (she could legally live here). Even so, I did not allow her to drive the cart on Morse, Canal or BV until she had driven the neighborhood streets and I felt (not she thought) she was truly comfortable in how a cart handled. (I did the same thing to myself for the first 2-3 weeks of having a cart available.)

[pooh]

***

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by redwitch

-- Of course, that means the golf cart will have to be registered, which would be another fee.
)

Red, you're right. I think if things get so out of hand this is what will happen.
Like you, our 17 and 21 year old grandsons were here and were not permitted to drive the cart without one of us with them.

Just tonight we saw a guy on Canal Street in a cart HOLDING an infant while driving with a toddler sitting on his knees sitting next to him.

What is wrong with people?

[The Great Fumar]

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR........THE BADS FAR OUTWEIGH THE GOODS.........