10 Golf Cart Accident Statistics That Are Hard to Believe

Most folks falsely assume golf cart accidents don’t happen very often. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in the United States.

Although golf carts are slower than cars, they still cause more accidents than any other vehicle. Remember, dangerous wrecks can happen even at slower speeds.

Safety is always the first priority when operating any vehicle. Here are 10 golf cart accident statistics that’ll blow your mind. This list is a reminder that you should always be alert while driving a cart.

 

1. Golf Cart Accidents Cause Injury to 15,000 People a Year

You may be surprised to learn that golf cart accidents cause 15,000 injuries per year. That’s an insanely high number when you think about it! This translates to a staggering 1,250 per month, and more than 288 per week.

Unfortunately, most of these incidents could be prevented if people practiced safer driving habits when using golf carts. As you would expect, golf cart crashes are more common in retirement villages, where residents use them as a mode of transportation both on and outside the golf course.

 

2. The majority of golf cart accidents are caused by children and teenagers

Here’s another sad statistic for you. In almost half of golf cart accidents, teenagers or children are involved. According to studies, more than 6,500 kids and teens are injured every year in golf car accidents.

Most people wrongly assume that golf carts are safe for kids and teens to drive, but that’s not the case. Most states in America require a person to be at least 14-years-old to drive a cart. If your teen wants to drive your golf cart, be sure to accompany them and show them how to do it in a safe way.

 

3. Rollovers account for 10% of golf cart crashes

Even though golf carts tend to roll over, this is because they have more weight at the bottom. When a golf cart flips, it’s usually because the driver tried to make a turn too quickly at a high rate of speed. Some teenagers drive haphazardly and increase the risk of rolling their golf cart.

Rollovers are a major cause of golf cart accidents. Therefore, operators should be extra careful when turning. This is especially important in rainy weather.

 

4. Over 11% golf cart accident injuries involve the head

Over 11% of golf cart accidents cause head or neck injuries. This should be a wake-up call for those who like to drive in an erratic manner, whether on or off of the golf course. What may seem to be a minor accident could have serious, life-long consequences.

Remember, golf carts don’t have seatbelts! This means that serious injuries, or even death, can occur even at low speeds. Some golf carts are capable of speeds up to 25 mph, even though most only reach 15 mph. Seatbelts can help reduce the risk of injury in your golf cart.

 

5. Golf Cart Batteries Are a Huge Fire Hazard

In warm-weather areas like Florida, a lot of people charge their golf cars in garages. Statistics show that this may seem harmless, but it is not. In many cases, entire homes were destroyed because of fires started by golf-cart batteries.

Why does it happen? Most golf cart batteries emit hydrogen into the atmosphere. This gas has no color or smell, but it’s highly flammable. A golf cart’s battery caused the destruction of a $1.9m mansion in Palm Beach County.

Golf cart owners should not charge their batteries in enclosed spaces. If you choose to charge your golf car in a garage make sure that the door is wide open and you have set a timer so you can unplug the cord. Also, check the battery for any damage.

If you are in need of a new battery for your golf cart, choose a brand that you can trust. In a previous post, we gave you nine options for golf cart batteries that are reliable.

 

6. Golf Cart Accidents: From 2007 to 2017, 156 040 people visited the Emergency Room.

Think that golf cart accidents don’t occur very frequently? Think again! A study by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System showed that emergency rooms treated 156.040 people who were injured in a Golf Cart between 2007 and 2017.

Sadly, injury statistics remained constant throughout that decade. This only proves the need for more training on golf cart safety.

 

7. Children are 3x more likely to suffer Traumatic Brain Injury

Here’s another sad stat that’s hard to digest. Kids are more likely than adults to suffer brain injuries in golf cart accidents. A brain injury affects an average of 1.6 children per 100,000. This number is 0.5 in adults and 1.1 in seniors.

This statistic emphasizes how important it is to drive a golf car in a safe way. If your children are in the cart with yours, you should go slower and be even more alert.

 

8. Some golf cart accidents are caused by carrying too many weight

Ignorance of any kind is not an excuse for driving a vehicle, even a golf cart. Many folks don’t realize that golf carts can only hold between 450 and 800 pounds. When the golf cart is overloaded, it can easily flip during sharp turns.

If you’re carrying a passenger, always check the weight limit to ensure you’ll be under it. The weight capacity of most golf carts is listed somewhere on the vehicle.

If you don’t see one listed, ask someone at the pro shop of your golf course. Also, don’t forget to factor the weight of you and your playing partner’s golf clubs into the overall calculation.

 

9. Golf Cart Accidents are 40% the result of experienced golfers

This statistic may be the most alarming of all. You might think that golfers who are new to the sport or are novices are more likely to cause accidents. Four out of ten golf cart accidents involve golfers who have several years of experience.

This shows that golf carts are not only for inexperienced players. They can be dangerous for everyone. Always drive carefully, no matter how long you’ve been teeing it up on the golf course.

 

10. The average age of a person injured in an accident is 38 years old

Here’s another statistic that’s kind of eye-opening. Most people assume that golf cart accidents are caused by careless teens. Several studies have shown, to the surprise of many, that the average age for those injured in golf cart accidents is 38!

As we have discussed above, golfers of all ages and levels of experience must always drive safely. Keep your phone in the golf bag, and keep your gaze straight ahead.