Golf Cart Safety Blog

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin: Golf Cart Crashes in The Villages, FL ¨C February, 2013 Recent reports (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJU-RIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement. (Note: we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details.) Saturday, December 8th, 1:30 p.m. ¨C Ve-hicle 1 (V-1), a 2010 Yamaha golf cart was southbound on Oak Forest Lane approaching the intersection of St. Michael. The driver of V-1 advised law enforcement that another golf cart turned in front of his cart onto St. Michael and caused him to swerve to avoid a crash. There was no contact with the other golf cart which left the scene. V-1 left the roadway onto the curb and grass where an overcorrection caused V-1 to tip over. The driver was partially ejected and transported for injuries sustained. Saturday, December 22nd, afternoon ¨C Report of eye witness ¨C A golf cart came flying around the back of the Polo Ridge postal station and decided to make a u-turn to go back against traffic. As the cart completed the turn, a passenger whom I would say was 12-15 years old, was flung out of the golf cart with arms and legs akimbo and landed face down on the pavement in the postal parking lot. The driver appeared to be a young man either in his late teens or in his twenties. The result of the passenger's falling, other than he was conscious, is unknown. Saturday, December 22nd, 7:20 p.m. ¨C Vehicle 2 (V-2), a 2008 Yamaha golf cart and Vehicle 3 (V-3), a 2010 Yamaha golf cart were both westbound on Odell Circle in the area of Mt. Croghan Trail. Vehicle 1 (V-1), a 2003 Cadillac, had just come through the gate at Odell Circle and Morse Boulevard heading east on Odell Circle. V-1 crossed over the center line into the west bound lane and hit V-1 and V-2 on the driver side of both carts. The driver of V-2 was ejected from the cart due to the crash. Both of the drivers of the golf carts were transported to The Villages Emergency Room by Rural Metro for further medical attention. Each golf cart had one passenger, neither of which required transport from the scene. The driver of V-1 was arrested for DUI at the scene and cited for operating a motor vehicle in a care-less or negligent manner. Monday, December 31st ¨C 9:20 p.m. ¨C Vehicle 1 (V-1), a 2006 Yamaha golf cart, driven by a 12 year old, was being headed southbound on Jericho Way. His father was a passenger. They circled the island in the cul-de-sac counter¨Cclockwise. The driver accelerated and the passenger leaned out of the cart on purpose, which combined with the speed, caused V-1 to roll to the right and collide with Vehicle 2 (V-2), a 2006 Volvo which was parked. The windshield of V-1 struck the rear bumper of V-2. When law enforcement arrived the golf cart had been returned to an upright position and the wind-shield of V-1 was in multiple pieces and the steering wheel was snapped off. Both driver and passenger denied any injuries. The pas-senger (father) was cited for Permitting an Unauthorized Person to Drive. Thursday, January 4th ¨C 3:20 p.m. ¨C The crash occurred at the intersection of Killing-ton Loop and Pinellas Place. Two carts crashed causing one to turn over and throw the driver from the vehicle. The driver was transported to the Villages Hospital. The other golf cart driver declined medical treat-ment.(Reported in Daily Sun) ¡õ

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin:

 Recent reports (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJU-RIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement. (Note: we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details.)

USE OF SEAT BELTS WILL KEEP YOU IN YOUR CART!

Monday, November 19th, 11:30 a.m.

Vehicle 1 (V-1) was north bound on Morse Blvd. V-2, a golf cart, was north bound on Morse Blvd. in the golf cart lane. V-1 was stopped at the intersection of Morse and Martinez Drive waiting for a vehicle to pull onto Morse from Martinez so that V-1 could turn right. V-2 was continuing north on Morse when V-1 attempted to make a right turn onto Martinez. V-2 applied his brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the curb causing his left leg to fall out of the interior of the golf cart. V-2 came to rest next to a light pole. The left leg of the golf cart driver was caught between the golf cart and light pole. He had a large laceration to his left calf and was transported to the Villages Hospital. The driver of V-1 was cited for an improper right turn.

Friday, November 23rd, 9 a.m.

I was on the way home this morning, about 9 AM, at the Morse/441/27 Gate, out bound, where there was an accident involving a car and a cart. They had a stretcher out and it looked like they were picking someone up from the street.

Friday, November 23rd, 6:30 p.m.

Bachman Path. Woman driving golf cart. Went to make a right turn. Did so not having noticed a trailer parked near the inter-section. She ran into the back of the trailer, fell out of the cart and struck her head on the trailer. She had a head laceration and was transported to Villages for evaluation.

Sunday, November 25th, 11:20 a.m.

A 61 year old female golf cart operator was driving a golf cart south bound on the golf cart path that runs parallel to Buena Vista Blvd. She approached the curve in the area of Buena Vista Blvd. and Old Mill Run. SHE HAD HER FOUR GRANDKIDS (ages 3, 4, 8 and 9) IN THE GOLF CART WITH HER. She advised law enforcement that she was traveling at approximately 14 MPH and that while navigating the curve her three year old grandson leaned toward the edge of the golf cart and fell out of the cart landing on the bushes next to the cart path. The child had a laceration to his lip and some abrasions on his legs. He was transported to the Villages Hospital by Rural Metro to be checked out further. (Imagine if the 3 year old had landed head first on concrete instead of a bush.)

Saturday, November 30th, 9 p.m.

Accident occurred at the intersection of Belle Meade and Argyll. Both occupants of the golf cart were ejected. One was sent to the hospital by ambulance and the other air-lifted as a trauma patient. The driver of the automobile involved stated "he came out of nowhere". Further details were not available.

The POA needs your help. If you see a golf cart accident scene, email us with the date, location, etc., at poa4us@hotmail.com.□

 

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin:

Recent reports, (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJURIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement.  (Note:  we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details:

USE OF SEAT BELTS WILL KEEP YOU IN YOUR CART!

Wednesday,October 24th, 9:20 AM

A golf cart was southbound on the trail parallel to Morse Boulevard.  The 73 year old male driver stated he was approaching a curve on the golf cart (path)  which would take him east on the golf cart path paralled to Colony Boulevard.  The driver stated he lost control of the golf cart and collided with a white PVC barrier anchored by concrete on the bottom.  The golf cart knocked the PVC pole barrier down and finally stopped in the bushes.  According to a witness's report to the POA, upon contact with the PVC barrier the driver was thrown from the cart.  The driver was treated at the scene for a laceration on his leg by Villages Fire and Rescue and refused transportation for further evaluation.

Tuesday, October 29th, 11 AM

A golf cart was traveling on the golf cart trail parallel to Buena Vista just south of El Camino Real.  The driver advised the Officer taking the report that he had fallen asleep and ran off the golf cart path.  A witness stated he found the golf cart over turned in the bushes by the fence and the driver on the ground.  The driver of the cart was transported to The Villages Hospital.

Friday, November 2nd - Morning

A crash occured between a sports utility vehicle and a golf cart at the Del Mar and Rio Grande intersection when the driver of the SUV failed to yield the right-of-way to the golf cart driver.  The driver of the golf cart was transported to The Villages Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Friday, November 2nd, at 11 AM

A golf cart ran off the golf cart path into some bushes and hit a tree on the cart path that runs parallel to the northbound lane on Morse, approximately 850 feet south of Odell Circle.  A witness stated that the golf cart drove over the bushes and shrubs for approximately 50 feet, until it hit a tree causing the golf cart to come to a stop.  The driver was awake but combative with EMS personnel on the scene.  EMS personnel on scene believe he had a seizure causing him to crash his golf cart.  he was transported to The Villages Hospital for further treatment.

Monday, November 12th

A golf cart, being operated by an 84 year old female, was traveling south in the golf cart lane on Bichara Boulevard approaching La Plaza Grande.  A vehicle also traveling south on Bichara was passing the golf cart when the golf cart operator attempted to make a left hand turn and struck the vehicle on the right rear.  The operator of the golf cart was ejected onto Bichara Boulevard, striking her head on the pavement and her golf cart continued in a westerly direction and stopped after it jumped the curb.  She was transported to The Villages HOspital.  The other fdriver left without stopping.

The Associated Press reported on October 29, 2012, that Senator Marco Rubio's twelve year old daughter suffered a head injury following a gofl cart accident.  The crash apparently happened inside a Private Gated Community where Senator Rubio's family resides; Alex Conant, a spokesman for Senator Rubio reported that Amanda Rubio was undergoing neurological testing at Miami Children's Hospital and that her prognosis is positive; Senator Rubio and his family have our prayers for a full and speedy recovery for his daughter Amanda.

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin:

Recent reports (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJURIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement. (Note: we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details.)

October 3, 2012 – 8:20 pm - A golf cart was east bound on Morse Boulevard. The driver missed the golf cart path and turned late, hitting the gate arm and housing. When the golf cart jumped over the curb, it caused the driver to fall out of the vehicle and she hit her head. She was bleeding from her face and had abrasions on her legs. There was minor damage to the vehicle and some dam-age to the housing and gate arm. The driver of the vehicle was transported to the Villages Hospital for further medical treatment and she was cited for the crash.

Friday, October 12th – At approximately 11:20am there was a golf cart crash in the area of Buena Vista Boulevard and Stillwater Trail. Law enforcement determined that the golf cart hit a curb with the passenger side rear tire, causing the golf cart to start weaving and resulting in the driver being thrown from the golf cart. The 77 year old female driver had several areas that had abrasions

due to being thrown from the cart. She was transported to the Villages Hospital for further treatment. She stated she was driving southbound on the golf cart path eating some popcorn when her tire hit the curb. She said she was unable to stay in the cart due to its weaving.

The POA is pleased to announce that we have met with law enforcement representatives from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office regarding the increasing number of fatalities and serious injuries which involve either ejections and/or people falling out of golf carts. It is our desire for area law enforcement representatives to help make residents aware of these circumstances and advise them that, while use of a seat belt is not a State law for golf carts, residents might want to consider using one if driving on the public roads.

Lt. Nehemiah Wolfe advised the POA that this concern is something that is being dis-cussed and it is an ongoing matter. He pro-vided the POA with the following statement:

“The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office official position on the subject of seat belts in golf carts is supported by Florida State Statute 316.212 and the National Golf International Light Transportation Vehicle Association, Inc. (ANSI Z130.1) This states that seat belts are not required on golf carts. However, because of the recent efforts made in tracking golf cart crash reports, twelve reported deaths from golf cart ejections was discovered. Therefore, area Law Enforcement has agreed to inform the public of these findings. Please reference the web links below:

Golf Cart Standard

https://iltva.org/standards/

Street Legal Vehicle Standard

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/lsv/lsv.html

316.212 Florida State Statute”.