How To Keep Kids Safe Around Golf Carts

Your golf cart is a smaller and slower-moving vehicle than other commuter vehicles but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an inherent risk factor, especially where children are involved. After all, it is still a motorized vehicle! Around one third of all golf cart injuries involve children under the age of 16, so some care is required to keep your young ones safe.

As your leading golf cart dealer in Oklahoma City, OK, we at Maxey’s Motorsports want all our patrons to stay safe in their vehicles. Read some of our recommended safety precautions below and if you’re looking for golf carts for sale near Tulsa or Edmond, get in touch with us and one of our friendly staff members will help you out! 

Prepare Your Golf Cart

Your golf cart is designed more for use on golf courses than residential areas. So if you’re going to be using it in the latter, you can add some aftermarket features or look for models that offer good safety features. One vital feature in this regard is seatbelts. A lack of seatbelts is the most common reason behind golf cart injuries because children can easily fall out of the seats if they’re not secured.

Oftentimes, your new golf cart won’t have features like headlights and brake lights. These are good features to add on if you want improved safety. Not only can you light up your way in the dusk, you can also ensure that your vehicle is visible to others on the roads and paths. Your golf car should, at the very least, be equipped with some reflectors to make it more visible to others.

Some carts can be modified to go at much higher speeds than the manufacturer recommends. Most carts leave the factory rated for nothing higher than 14 miles per hour, so anything beyond that isn’t safe. High speeds can reduce stability and unbalance the cart, leaving you without as much control. Go well below the maximum speed, even if it takes longer to get where you need to be. 

Keep in mind that the rear-axle brakes in your golf cart aren’t the same as the ones in your passenger vehicle. You have to know how to properly operate these to ensure you don’t end up fishtailing your cart or even overturning it completely. 

Know & Teach The Rules

Before you take out your golf cart for the first time, you should know all the laws of your city or state regarding the use of the fairway. Make sure that you’re in compliance with whatever local regulations exist on this matter. You can generally check with the DMV for this. At the very least, there will likely be a minimum age for the operator and they’ll need to have a valid driver’s license.

You'll find other relevant information in your owner’s manual. Check it to see the number of passengers your golf cart can safely seat, how much weight your golf cart can hold and how quickly you can operate it. Teach kids to always keep their arms and legs inside the cart at all times and to never disturb the operator. Children should also do their best to not create any distractions while the cart is moving. Put younger children in a forward-facing seat so they’re less likely to fall out.

Equip Safety Gear

One thing you want to do for sure is equip your kids with the appropriate safety gear for riding in an open-air vehicle. This is usually close to the gear worn for powersports vehicles. Your kids should have a well-fitting helmet, as well as snug clothing that won’t get caught up in any moving parts. It also helps to have them wear closed-toe shoes without any dangling laces. 

We hope this information helps you provide your children with safe and enjoyable rides! If you’re looking for the perfect cart for your family, contact Maxey’s Motorsports to check out our huge selection of golf carts for sale in Oklahoma City, OK. We’re also proud to be the preferred golf cart dealer for our friends from Tulsa and Edmond!