Is there a certain age you need to be to drive a golf cart? Neighbors just recently bought one and their 5th grader is driving all around the subdivision (500+ houses) with several other kids ranging from 13 to 4... of course my 7 and 3 year old want to join but I am thinking to myself there is no way this kid can recognize the danger of driving... am I wrong to think this or am I being too protective? Side note police pulled up after the kids stopped to charge the cart and said there were some phone calls made that the cart was running stop signs and almost got hit, officer said they weren't so much worried about a kid driving but that they were running stop signs?!? So scary.
If it was on private property, or even country back-roads, I wouldn't have a problem at all with it...
but on public streets? in a crowded subdivision? yeah... I wouldn't allow my kid with them. All it would take is one person to come tearing through the subdivision while the kids aren't paying attention to result in tragedy.
Yeah, no. Wouldnt let my kids do this. If we had a ton of property for them to ride on, probably, sounds like fun, but a residential neighborhood???
Where are the parents? I would never let a neighborhood kid ride on it either. They are asking for it!
Yikes!
Call the local police precinct and ask what the local ordinance is concerning kids, golf carts and public streets. Describe for them the unsafe manner in which they are riding, the young ages of the kids etc. The police may not be able to do anything re. the golf cart but may be able to talk with the parents about how allowing their children to do this they are "endangering the welfare of a minor."
On private property (I have extended family that races... the kids all start driving as soon as they're tall enough, usually around age 9-10... on their own property)..
On golf courses...
Etc.
I have no problem with.
ON PUBLIC STREETS???
Insert problem here.
People who live in the country tend to let 4 and 5 year olds drive. I had to tell my, then 3 year old, that he could not get on the golf cart that his 4 year old cousin was driving. If his 7 year old cousin was driving I might have said yes.
The difference, really, is that they lived on about 8 acres and were not driving on public streets. However, kids tend not to have the same decision making skills as adults.
We drive 4-wheelers on our property all the time. We are not yet ready to let our now 6 year old drive by himself. He's done it a few times with Daddy supervising, but never for long, never alone and it will be quite awhile before we allow other kids to ride with him.
Licensed driver if public roads.
Call your local city police non-emergency line and ask them what the laws are. Its likely illegal so tell them you are having problems and ask them to have officers patrol. Hopefully they will catch them doing something and the very least, speak to the parents about it. Oh, and NO way would I let my kids ride with them. Good luck
Multiple choice here:
A. The parents have lost their minds
B. The parents want to pay traffic fines
C. The parents want to pay for damaged property/injuries to others
D. All of the above.
Do you have an HOA you can bring this up to? I agree that if it's on one's own property-- your kid, your vehicle-- you takes your chances. Out in public, no way.
At what age does your head stop getting bashed in when it comes in contact with the pavement? Oh, hell no would I put my child on a golf cart with another child.
http://motorvehicles.org/golf-cart-registration
website where you can put in your state and find out the registration requirements.
I would think that if you are on public roads you need to adhere to public road rules which require a license and registration and seat belts, etc. I think that 1 or 2 kids on private property is one thing. Lots of kids on public roads and it becomes a game where they do not look out for other traffic.
I would have a problem with there not being an adult on board. Especially with other young children on board. I could see my 6th grader driving one, but not with my 6y and without me.
We were camping in Wisconsin this summer and rented a golf cart for our campsite. We were told by the camp owners that you have to be 15 to drive with a permit (and a parent has to be with you) and 16 with a license to drive without a parent. So... just like a regular car.
We drove around in a golf cart as kids, not any older then 5th grade. We had a good time and no one got hurt, but we lived out in the country. if this is in town then I would consider it dangerous.
Kids get killed doing that. That's just terribly, terribly unsafe.
You'll have to check your local laws about the age to drive a golf cart, but I'd also check the ordinances about anyone driving a golf cart on city/town streets. Most have ordinances about riding motorized scooters, go carts, scooters and so on. So check your ordinances. Now, there are people who have large properties and allow their children to drive 4 wheelers, "mules" and even golf carts because the size of the property and it's private with no other traffic or people and usually under the supervision of an adult. If someone is driving a golf cart in a "subdivision" then I'd be calling the local police as that's not safe for anyone to be doing.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
It would appear that Texas does not regulate driving golf carts by age.
Check this out http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/drivers/golf_carts.htm
That being said, it does state that your local authority is the one to contact about driver's license requirements. Personally I would think a mature 13 or 14 year old could drive a cart if they were taught to drive responsibily. But as the parent of that kid, I certainly wouldn't allow them to be carting other kids around and as for letting your 7 and 3 year old ride along...well I am sure there are other dangerous things they want to do and you say "No" to those things too!
lots of kids in our neighborhood do this. Of course we do not have 500+ houses in our neighborhood either, but the young ones do drive, and lots of times the parents are with them too. I don't usually worry about it too much here, because we pretty much know everyone here and if we have an issue we know the parents and can talk to them. But we have never needed to so far.
I used to drive them around when I was around 7 years old. It was fun but my parents were with me when I did it
My grandparents had a 10 acre citrus orchard that supplemented their income. I drove on their property, but not on the street when I was about 9 or 10.
I can't imaginge a parent that would let any child that didn't have a license drive on a public street unless they were the only house on a long culdesac. I would never let my kids drive on a public street, but I had a large lot (26 acres) and I did let my kids drive my tractor when they turned 10, but never without me standing nearby watching. (I would often stand or sit in the trees where they couldn't see me and I would watch them.) I never had a problem.
Good luck to you and yours.
I'm in TX and if you are on the street or sidewalk with anything motorized in my area, you'll be ticketed. The battery operated big wheels and Barbie jeeps are included.
I've seen neighbors ticketed for gocarts, mini bikes, and electric scooters. I know it made a lot of parents angry when they made that rule. We are in a very nice area and not heavy traffic.
No, I don't think driving a golf cart on a public street, especially with multiple children on it is safe. That's a bad accident waiting to happen. A kid that young cannot possibly understand all the risks involved.
If private property and no traffic involved, I wouldn't be as concerned.
Ever seen a power wheels? Same thing only slower.
Now if the kids are irresponsible that is reason enough to say no.
Check with your local authorities, it varies.
If they are breaking the law by all means report them.
My SIL lives in a big house on a golf course in a fairly safe/low traffic subdivision and I can tell you my nieces and nephews were driving the golf cart and giving their little cousins (including my three) rides from a fairly young age. I was nervous but they went extra slow with the younger kids so I kinda let it slide. Plus they pretty much stayed on the property or cul de sac.
No matter what the law is you just need to use your best judgement, mom knows best!
I would call the cops again the next time you see it being driven by the kids. Report that there are 10 or 11 year olds driving a cart and ask if the police can talk to the parents and if you can remain anonymous (to the neighbors, not to the police).
This is exactly the type of story that I foresee ending up on the Internet and all the morning news shows one day: "A golf cart with an 11-year-old at the wheel and .three other children on board was struck by a car yesterday, killing all four children." Or possibly "killing the children and the driver of the car" or innocent bystanders. Definitely never, ever let your kids ride in this cart.
This is a disaster just waiting to happen. Call the cops on them every time you see them and especially if they so much as swerve. The parents should be ashamed at their own idiocy.
To drive on the street as these children are doing a child must have a valid drivers license (so 16) at least thats how it is in texas
I have family in NC and WV that live in rural areas and the kids drive golf carts on the family property all the time - starting at about age 10 or so. However, this is private property with no roads or parking lots to contend with. If that were the case I would NOT let a child that young drive the golf cart. Too dangerous!!
In Iowa the age is 13. I think in most states it is 14 or 15.
my grandmother lived on golf course and we as young kids would drive to our neighbors house. also my brothers would drive there go carts to friends houses miles away!! all back streets but still kinda too much freedom. The main consirn I would have is if they werent seated safely. I have heard more than one situations where a grown man was standing holding on and fell of hit his head and died. Where I have an issue with driving a golf cart is not so much the age but the saftey. If the parents would supervise and train there kids then np.
We have the same issue in my neighborhood. It drove me nuts to see these kids driving these carts around and quite frankly without regard to road safety. So I looked up the local ordinances. To my shock, it turned out that a residential neighborhood's roads were considered private roads, not public roads, so the kids didn't have to be licensed as long as they stayed in the neighborhood! Yikes! So I've just resolved to keep my own kids from following their examples, watch out for the other kids' crazy driving, and pray to God that no child is hurt!
I'm with KP. In Texas, it's 15 with a permit and a parent, or 16 if you want to drive on your own.
I hope these parents don't allow this kid to drive this thing any longer.
a golf cart! what fun!
but on the road? no. if this happens often i'd certainly be in touch with the authorities. there's a reason you're supposed to be licensed in order to operate a vehicle on roads where there are cars.
khairete
S.
