[jrref]

Regardless what anyone says, most golf carts are going 23-25 mph here in the Villages. Even at 20 mph, people don't realize you are going fast enough to sustain serious injury if anything happens. So, yes seat belts should be mandatory.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jrref

Regardless what anyone says, most golf carts are going 23-25 mph here in the Villages. Even at 20 mph, people don't realize you are going fast enough to sustain serious injury if anything happens. So, yes seat belts should be mandatory.

I really detest "mandatory." I understand the thought behind it but I just don't like the Govt forcing me to protect myself.

If I am not hurting someone, leave me alone.
If the answer is I am making choices that burden society then watch out, that's a very long, very slipper slope.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I really detest "mandatory." I understand the thought behind it but I just don't like the Govt forcing me to protect myself.

If I am not hurting someone, leave me alone.
If the answer is I am making choices that burden society then watch out, that's a very long, very slipper slope.

You would think that speed limits in the Villages would be mandatory but most cars and golf carts I see in the Villages are going well over it. I cannot see practically though how this could be stopped. They are going to keep speeding. Seatbelts would help but that would only be the choice of the person unless they make it mandatory.

[Bay Kid]

Cars, trucks, boats, people get killed everyday.

Carts be careful, enjoy the ride and the beauty of The Villages.

[tophcfa]

Not going to help keep insurance premiums reasonable.

[alwann]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Stay tuned, I'm afraid the worst is yet to come.

Seems many of the new 4-6 passenger carts now being sold are capable of 25-30+ mph.

We're seeing families (Middleton) in these miniVan like 6 (8 with rear facing seats) passenger carts full of kids.

They're so long they can't stay in lane for the blind tight turns.

It's a disaster waiting to happen at the high speeds on paths designed for 20 mph and number of passengers in the carts.

Are those "buses" permitted on the golf courses? I seen some 4-forward models out there and wondered how they affect the turf.

[wisbad1]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

It happens but is rare. Only seen it once in Lynnhaven. Or near Lynnhaven. Probably about two years ago. It passed me while I was coming home with groceries.

The Villages use them to haul potential customers around. Seen them with six clowns inside.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by HappyTraveler

Sperbeck, 61 yrs old, fell out of the cart and banged his head on the asphalt.

It was after a party and Elway was driving. Seems to be at least appropriate to assume that seat belts weren't being worn.

The article indicates he fell out of the back of the cart, seemingly implying it was a rear facing four seater. It’s no wonder insurance companies are refusing to write policies on those things.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I saw that news on ABC. It was not targeting The Villages (for a change)

Correction: They put an extended version on this morning's news, with multiple clips from The Villages and an interview with a Sumter Co. deputy. They showed a trashed cart on Morse near De La Vista entrance----except----the cart was in the car lane. In typical media style, they dug up a sob story from a cart accident victim---in January 2020.

The main thrust of the segment was a push for mandatory seatbelts in golf carts----which is actually a pretty good idea. But unfortunately, the muckraking style of the media will probably lead to unforeseen consequences. At least the "more police, more tickets, more enforcement" crowd will be happy, because I'm pretty sure that will be in our future after this news story. So better be sure you never drive your cart at 20.1 mph----they might execute on the spot ala Judge Dread.

PS: I'm STILL waiting to see all those golf carts going 40 mph like some on TOTV have claimed

You'll be waiting a long time. I think the imaginary radar gun needs to be recalibrated.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

You'll be waiting a long time. I think the imaginary radar gun needs to be recalibrated.

Sure does. Yet the assertion by some that carts are going 40+ keeps resurfacing on all related threads. Yep, I agree with you that it will be a long wait until it really happens

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I really detest "mandatory." I understand the thought behind it but I just don't like the Govt forcing me to protect myself.

If I am not hurting someone, leave me alone.
If the answer is I am making choices that burden society then watch out, that's a very long, very slipper slope.

Right, but look at it this way. You don't wear seatbelts, you fall out of the cart, you don't care what happens to you but you may cause an accident with another cart when your body falls in front of their front wheels potentially making them fall out of their cart or hit a tree.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jrref

Right, but look at it this way. You don't wear seatbelts, you fall out of the cart, you don't care what happens to you but you may cause an accident with another cart when your body falls in front of their front wheels potentially making them fall out of their cart or hit a tree.

The next time that happens will be the first time and I still will not be any condition to care that someone was following too close.

[mrf6969]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

The article indicates he fell out of the back of the cart, seemingly implying it was a rear facing four seater. It’s no wonder insurance companies are refusing to write policies on those things.

Exactly, anyone with a "rear facing" 4-seat golf cart has to be VERY careful when taking a turn. What happens is that one of the front tires will come off the ground on the turn and the cart will lean. Doing this too fast and the golf cart can turn over, especially if you have adults(weight) on the back of the cart. Careful out there people!!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Ignatz

Here we go…. An unfortunate minority of people are getting lawyers and tv involved creating an issue to mess up the responsible people of TV.

I’m all in favor of the local LEOs enforcing traffic rules for carts (especially speeding, dui, and such), but don’t wrap us in helmets and bubble wrap to protect us from our lifestyle.

Don't need helmets and bubble wrap, but seat-belts should be standard issue with all golf carts, new and used, sold by licensed dealers. If the dealer didn't get the used cart with seatbelts, they should be required to install them before re-selling the cart.

This way - insurance companies can say "well he wasn't wearing his seat belt, which was available for him to use. So we won't be covering his injuries, or any damage to his cart or anyone else's property that occurred immediately following his ejection from his seat."

Make the driver who chose not to use seatbelts be 100% responsible for all damages. And if a minor child falls out and gets killed, charge the driver with negligence of a minor, and vehicular homicide.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I really detest "mandatory." I understand the thought behind it but I just don't like the Govt forcing me to protect myself.

If I am not hurting someone, leave me alone.
If the answer is I am making choices that burden society then watch out, that's a very long, very slipper slope.

If you are ejected from your vehicle, and you cause damage to someone's property when you land on it, then you are hurting someone.
If you're killed because you weren't wearing your seatbelt, the person whose vehicle you crashed into will have to spend the rest of their lives knowing that the "other guy" is dead. That's hurting someone.
If you are ejected from your vehicle and die because of it, your family will all have to spend the rest of THEIR lives knowing that you died because you felt it was more important to be a "right-fighter" than a living person. That's hurting someone.

If you are a passenger who chooses not to wear a seatbelt, and the driver chooses to drive with you anyway, then when you are injured because of an accident, or because you fell out on a turn - they will know that THEY are responsible for choosing to let you sit in the passenger seat without a seatbelt. That's hurting someone.

Now, if you are driving, you fall out and land on the side of the road, and the cart comes to a complete stop on the side of the road without causing damage or injury to anyone else, and traffic is able to move as usual, then sure. Enjoy your shortened life exercising your right to not wear a seatbelt. No harm, no foul, thoughts and prayers.

Meanwhile, I'll wear my seatbelt and encourage all my passengers to do the same. I -require- my sister to wear hers when she's a passenger in my cart, and let other passengers who choose not to, know that if they fall out they're on their own.

I'm for a requirement. And maybe it's not even enforceable. But if you hit my cart, and I fall out and break many bones instead of simply staying put and maybe banging my boobs on the steering wheel, you should HOPE that I can't come after YOU to pay the medical bills. But since seatbelts are optional - you're outta luck. The law is now on my side. It shouldn't be, but it is.