Lakeland 6-year-old dies after fall from golf cart

[PuttPutt]

This story broke my heart. We should all campaign for golf cart safety. Who knows, the next accident might happen to our loved ones?!

Read about it here

[alf174]

On neighborhood streets, built for cars, carts are not any less dangerous than a bicycle. Probably worse because they are motorized. Let the kids wear their bike helmets.

Senseless loss. Come on parents, use your heads and think it through.

/rant

[Chief Broom]

As a teen I was thrown out of a cart at a pretty high rate of speed. We were driving down a hill and without warning the driver made a sharp turn and I kept going straight. I probably rolled end of end 4 or 5 times but fortunately I was only scraped up. Since then I've seen this exact same scenario acted out on the golf course and in parking lots several times (not to mention the occassional cart that gets turned on it's side). If I'm riding in a cart I try not to get too comfortable and instead pay as much attention to what's going on as the driver. What a tragedy!

[clearwaterms]

why were they riding in a golf cart off of a golf course?

Also, what happened? They didn't say why she fell out? Did another car or vehicle cause the driver to make a sudden turn? Golf cart safety isn't the only issue here, how about realizing that the parents need to enforce better rules, realize that a golf cart is dangerous.

This is a tragedy and I am not saying the parents are to blame, but other than this being a golf cart (and we are on a golf forum) what makes this any different than when a kid gets hurt (or worse in this case) from a skate board, dirt bike, bicycle, etc. accident?

Instead of trying to reform golf carts (which can only end badly for golfers, and golf resorts) how about looking to reform child safety laws when in or on a moving vehicle.

[kpaulhus]

why were they riding in a golf cart off of a golf course?

Some communities in Fl are really golf communities. Kids get around on golf carts. Its the norm down here. Its just a tragic accident. I feel sorry for the family and the 16 yr old that was driving. The cart hit a bump and she fell out and landed on her head.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/apr...alling-golf-c/

[zeg]

I think it is a reminder that a golf cart is a vehicle. I wouldn't think of putting my 3-year-old in a car without a car seat, nor would I let him ride his bike around without his helmet. Yet I've considered taking him out on the course in a cart. After reading this, I might think twice and just take him walking instead. Sure, it's something of a freak accident, but for someone who doesn't fit the seat and can't brace himself against the floor the way an adult could, a cart on uneven terrain is a pretty dangerous vehicle.

[KD Epic]

Ever since Chris Henry (Cinncy WR) passed away I've been seeing all sorts of stories about deaths like this. Chris Henry out of the back of his truck, A girl stepped out of a moving school bus and passed away, this story... There have been quite a few. I think parents just, in light of recent events, need to explain that moving vehicles are dangerous. That whole "Jump out and roll three times" just doesn't work like they show in the movies... Even I would admit I'm a little desensitized to these kinds of dangers because of movies.

I'm not advocating censorship I'm seriously against that, kids just need to be taught along with the other things - death, killing, monsters, zombies, the list goes on - that it's the MOVIES and that it's a serious danger.

[z.b.taylor11]

I flipped a golf cart... I'm just an idiot who somehow walked away from the accident without any injuries. my foot puffed up to the size of a goose egg though

[mrmiller8]

Just hopping on kpaulhus reply.... He is right here in Florida we do have a ton of "Golf Communities" meaning that people drive their golf carts to everywhere in the community. You see 12 year olds driving golf carts around all the time. This is definitely sad but thats the risk you take.

[James_Black]

1. Teenagers aren't allowed to drive golf carts.
2. why were they in a street?

A seatbelt is a great idea for golf carts.

[Shorty]

This story broke my heart. We should all campaign for golf cart safety. Who knows, the next accident might happen to our loved ones?!

We don't need to campaign for golf cart safety. You can't legislate against stupidity or irresponsibilty and the parents are 100% to blame for this.

It won't happen to your loved ones if you care enough about them to keep them safe.

[Hoovedawg]

I want to start off by saying that this is a terrible tragedy and my prayers go out to the family.

But

You all are making some stupid comments regarding golf cart safety. It was a fluke accident that is incredibly unlikely to happen. "Legislate golf cart safety" are you serious? Thats the last thing we need, more laws, more of the government acting like we cant survive on our own with out big brother holding our hand. Personally I think there need to be less safety legislation, because I dont want every single aspect of my life controled. I wear a seat belt because I dont want to die, not because the law says I have to.

"Golf cart seatbelts" again, are you serious? Besides the fact that it would be a total pain in the ass to buckle and unbuckle yourself every shot, who would honestly wear a seatbelt? The golf cart has a top speed of 13-20 mph (approximately the speed of a man sprinting). Chances are good that a seat belt isnt going to be necessary. For example, today I was parking a cart, the breaks totally didnt work and i went basically full speed into a parked cart. I was completly fine. Should we outlaw sprinting? People have died doing that, so why not?

Bottom line is accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. I knew a guy who tried jumping over a tennis net, got his foot caught, fell, hit his head and died. Its extremely unfortunate but at the same time, what are the chances? I could jump over the same net all day and not get worse than a bruised elbow or a skinned knee. Fluke accidents will continue to happen no matter how hard people try to push outlandish safety ideas. Personally, Id rather have the choice as an individual to decide what is best for my safety, rather than have someone force me to follow their rules

[alf174]

....You all are making some stupid comments regarding golf cart safety.....

Wrong. I suggest you go back and read each post carefully.

[zeg]

"Golf cart seatbelts" again, are you serious? Besides the fact that it would be a total pain in the ass to buckle and unbuckle yourself every shot, who would honestly wear a seatbelt? The golf cart has a top speed of 13-20 mph (approximately the speed of a man sprinting). Chances are good that a seat belt isnt going to be necessary. For example, today I was parking a cart, the breaks totally didnt work and i went basically full speed into a parked cart. I was completly fine. Should we outlaw sprinting? People have died doing that, so why not?

I recall very similar arguments when car seatbelt laws were being passed across the country. Nobody likes being told what to do. If a cart had a seatbelt, I'd wear it. Contrary to the usual claim, putting it on is NOT a big deal, if it's a well-designed seatbelt. Would I use it every instant? No, if I'm going to slide the cart forward 30 feet on flat ground, I'll just pop in and move it, same as I might do with a car in an empty parking lot.

Accidents do happen, and they can't all be prevented, but that's not an excuse to refuse taking reasonable steps to prevent some of them.

[Fozcycle]

The problem is...........we live in a world where Parents fail to be responsible. Then, when something tragic happens, they will put blame on everything but themselves. They will probably even try to sue the golf cart mgf. for contributing to the tragis accident. The Parents should not be allowing their children to drive down the road in a golf cart.

[Hoovedawg]

Exactly, we need to live in a society that focuses on individual responsibility, not an all powerful big brother that controls everything for everyone.

As for two previous posts, YES people are making stupid comments and suggestions on here. Seatbelts on golf carts is not only a bad idea in my opinion, but is also logically a stupid idea. Seatbelts were designed for high impact collisions. They are intended to keep people from being thrown through the windshield of a car. Now maybe you all have some rocket golf carts that I dont know about, but Ive crashed my fair share of golf carts (ive worked at courses for 3 years) and have never once been throw through the windshield. Come to think of it ive never even come out of my seat. Golf carts dont go fast. So seatbelts to prevent one from being through the windshield is not necessary at all. Now consider the other way you can be injured in a golf cart falling out the side. Now, consider what would happen with one of your "genius" golf cart seatbelts. You will be able to slide off the seat, then as you drag along beside the cart the belt will tighten up and you will be stuck halfway in the cart being dragged along side. Doesnt sound very good to me. Bottom line is seatbelts are not designed to prevent the types of injuries sustained in golf cart accidents. If anything, you should be suggesting doors (which I also think is a stupid idea) rather than seatbelts.

Just a little more on zegs post. You say you would not wear a seat belt for moving a cart up a short distance. Now i agree that i dont wear a seatbelt in a car in a parking lot. This is because in a parking lot Im going at low speeds (20 mph or less). Now a golf cart is ALWAYS going 20 mph or less so it seems to me that your agreeing that seatbelts are not necessary at low speeds (which is a golf cart 100% of the time).
So yes, I did reread each post, and yes some of them are stupid.

[alf174]

Exactly, we need to live in a society that focuses on individual responsibility, not an all powerful big brother that controls everything for everyone.

You previously stated "ALL". Thanks for retracting and saying "SOME".

As for your thoughts on seat belts, I too don't think they are required. I do believe parents should insist their children wear helmets just as they do riding bikes, motorcyles, etc.

[Hoovedawg]

I didnt intend it as being directed towards everyone, just the ones saying stupid things about seatbelts and governmental golf cart legislation. I meant it as you all (as in the people saying stupid stuff).