I would assume that there are more and more golf cart accidents is that there are more and more golf carts here in The Villages. More carts equals more accidents. :popcorn:

It's not just like in a car. A car has luminescent white lines to follow, especially helpful at night. The multimodal path doesn't have white lines like that to follow in the dark (I realize this particular accident happened reportedly in daylight). And a car's headlights are more powerful than those on a golf cart.

I've noticed many times when rounding those particular curves in the multimodal path (Stillwater and BV) that the narrow view the lights on the cart provide make it hard to see the curves and curbs in the dark.

Also, I don't think most people realize how much more dangerous it is to hit a curb with the golf cart than with a car. A car doesn't usually flip or roll over when hitting a curb going under 20 mph. And a person is unlikely to get thrown out of a car by hitting a curb at that speed. And the car is unlikely to flip over at that speed.

golf cart accidents
 

I read about another accident with a golf cart and would like to know how many people have had seat belts put in their carts? I am thinking of putting one in the passenger side where I always sit because my husband does not want one. I feel it would be safer. Thanks for any input.

It gets awful in January, February and March. Awful. There will be many accidents.

Be extra, extra careful during that time.

On the yearly survey, I always recommend putting reflectors on the multi-modal paths like what is put on the streets. The area in question (south of Stillwater on BV going around the park-like setting) is very dark and hard to navigate at night. I understand this accident didn't happen at night, nevertheless, I'd like more of us to recommend the reflectors on the paths when the next survey comes out. Night driving is a little more difficult for some of us, at our age, regardless of in a car or a cart.

The area south of BV near Stillwater is not the only multi-modal path that is dark and hard to navigate. For example, the tunnel that goes under 466A between BV and Canal concerns me. When coming from the north, there is a very sharp grade taking you down into the tunnel. There should be a warning sign signaling a sharp grade and to slow down. At the end of the tunnel, you have to pull the cart out into the multi-modal path in order to see cart traffic coming from both directions. There is a mirror there to help but it's not easy, at least for me, to use. To me, this was poor planning.

I also think the path following BV SOUTH from 466A has some other very dangerous, sharp curves. Reflectors would help us drive these paths safer.

We have seatbelts in both our carts. I have to admit I don't use them but when the grandkids are here, we don't move the cart until they are buckled in.

The problem with seat belts in a cart is that the cart has no roll bar. If the cart flips, the roof is going to crush in. Wouldn't want to be stuck in that situation. Better to be thrown from the cart than be crushed.

What time does Happy Hour end?:beer3:

From personal accounts of TV residents having seen golf cart accidents, and from the accounts published in the POA Bulletin, most cart accident victims here get thrown out of the cart and it's not a rollover. The big difference here versus typical golf cart use is that getting ejected here means NOT being thrown onto golf course turf/grass, but onto street pavement and curb concrete and then being subject to being run over by cars and trucks if thrown onto the pavement. That is far worse than being thrown onto golf course grass.

Also, here in TV, we are not driving on wet grass on hillsides and mud as golf course driving often entails, which is more conducive to rollovers. We're driving on flat city streets and paved multimodal trails. The likelihood of getting ejected into car/truck traffic is much higher here, and so is getting ejected with head split open on concrete curbing. People who know widows and widowers of that very thing are the first to say they will NOT get into a cart here without seat belts (apart from when they're playing golf).

Got us thinking we need to install seat belts at least for the grandchildren when they visit. Does anyone have a recommendation where to have them installed correctly.j

Thanks

We have seat belts and I ALWAYS use mine just like in a car. I feel safer and more secure. Would never consider letting grandkids ride without them.

The excessive speed in the tunnels; the drivers' legs sticking out of golf carts on the bridge and in the tunnels and those that forget they are retired and do NOT have to rush anywhere are the problems.......SLOW DOWN IN THE TUNNELS AND ALL PLEASE BE CAREFUL ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUSY SEASON!:posting:

I agree with what you're saying about safety in driving your golf cart. But, I have to say that I am getting really tired of people saying that because many of us are retired that we are never in a rush to get anywhere. We all have doctors appointments, meetings, tee time and all sort of other things that require us to be somewhere at a certain time. I would agree that we should leave ourselves enough time to get to where we're going without speeding, but, to imply that we are all retired and that we just never have any place to go is insulting.
And by the way, it's not just you saying it. I've read it over and over on this site.

You're right in some ways, but I think a bigger part of the speeding problem is that too many treat these carts as "big boy/girl toys" and like to go everywhere at top speed whether they have a definite destination/timeline or not. Unfortunately, some few are just smitten with the "me, me, me" attitude. My biggest gripe about the carts is that some seem to think that once you pass 65, you just need to stay home, wait your time for the grim reaper, and stay off the carts and out of the way. Many of the "old" drivers are much less a hazard than the "young" ones and often more courteous and friendly.

Golf Carts were built for golf courses----top speed about 12 mph or less. They have been modified with lights, turn signals, etc. but not for safety.

Just wonder who in TV will come out with a cart with real "safety" in mind? Unfortunately, it pretty much took GOVERNMENT to make our cars safer. Hey, we mostly "bad mouth" our Government but sometimes they do something right!