Golf cart accidents are preventable!

Golf cart accidents and injuries are steadily increasing each year! Many are injured and hurt in golf cart accidents due to a variety of factors, including increased use, a lack of safety equipment, and unsafe driving.

Pursuant to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 15,000 accidents require a trip to the emergency room each year.

These accidents are often more severe than a regular car crash as golf carts lack the safety measures of a traditional automobile.

While there are more golf cart accidents than ever, there are also more golf carts. Golf carts have become a staple of resorts, small cities, and planned communities, sometimes replacing traditional cars and trucks.

Many people, especially parents, falsely view golf carts as a safer, less intimidating alternative to cars. However, driving a golf cart is just as dangerous as driving a car and requires the same training and awareness measures.

Golf carts often lack safety features, such as seatbelts, airbags, turn signals, mirrors, and doors.

Golf cart accidents are 100% preventable.

When drivers understand the limitations of their vehicles and the increased risks associated with operating a golf cart, they will directly contribute to the reduction of golf cart accidents in the future.

Therefore, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company is pursuing the publication and distribution of a tri-fold Golf Cart Safety pamphlet to highlight various safety tips throughout our immediate fire district to enhance the educational awareness of Golf Cart Safety.

This publication is a collaborative effort with Indian River Golf Cars, Inc. which has graciously sponsored the design, development and publication of this pamphlet for dissemination.

Additional information golf cart safety tips may be viewed via the following websites:

• http://irvfc.com/messageCenter/detail?id=39752

• http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/45274?ss=1

• https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=indian%20river%20golf%20cars%20inc

Recent incident synopsis regarding golf carts within our immediate fire district:

•  http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail?id=45306

• http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/44672?ss=1