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Helpful Tips: Keep Kids Safe on a Golf Cart
Taking your kids on golf cart rides is something more and more of us are doing, but it also comes with a few safety concerns. Stock golf carts aren’t known for their speed, but they can still get into accidents. A whole third of golf cart related injuries happen to children under the age of 16, in fact!
Safety Upgrades
A good suggestion is to upgrade your cart with a standard street legal package. This will give you that peace of mind safety features that are required to keep riders safe. For example, many models lack seat belts entirely. If yours is one of these, it’s recommended that you install a set with an aftermarket upgrade kit. Seat belts are vital for keeping people in their seats during a drive, which is particularly difficult for children both because they’re less coordinated and because they get antsy. Seat belts can also help reduce the impact of a collision, preventing passenger from flying or falling out.
Know Your Machine and It’s Limits
Golf Carts aren’t the most flexible of all machines, and they have limits when it comes to what they can do. Part of that is related to weight capacity. Golf carts can only carry a certain amount of weight, though that amount is different depending on the cart. Check your owner’s manual to see your model’s weight capacity. Never exceed this, as it can interfere with normal performance, damage the cart, and even endanger the passengers and cargo weight.
Practice Driving First
Part of knowing your cart is taking the time to drive a lot so you learn all its limits and capabilities firsthand. You can see the stats, but knowing what it feels like to turn safely is another thing entirely. Make sure to dedicate some time to learn how to handle your cart before bringing any passengers along, and even more time before bringing children. Learn its accelerations, stopping distance, turn radius and any quirks.
Go Easy on Speed Modifications
Golf carts come off the factory line with built-in speed limitations. Some owners upgrade their vehicles to help them hit higher speeds, but these vehicles are built for their factory-limited speeds. Going faster runs the risk of losing out on stability and balance, increasing the chances of accidents and rolling. This is especially dangerous when you bring children along. With kids in the cart, stick with the original factory speed limits to ensure better control and a safer drive.
Review Safety Rules with the Kids
Before heading out, make sure any kids coming with you are familiar with all the safety rules. Remember that younger children may need to hear the rules multiple times before it really sticks. Repetition is key to learning and memorization, after all!
Safe Clothing
Finally, make sure all children are wearing clothing safe for this ride. It should fit snugly and not trail to ensure it doesn’t catch on anything during the ride. Like most activities that involve kids, it is recommended that they were close-toed shoes that are free of dangling laces. With younger children consider equipping them with bike helmets to ensure their safety in case of an accident.
We hop these tips help you and your kids have fun safely! If you want more information, or want to add some safety equipment to your cart be sure to check with your local dealer/repair shop. They can give you proper guidance for that is best fitments for your make and model of golf cart.
Have fun, be safe, and Keep on Cartin’.