Safety is important within any kind of motorized vehicle, and an electric golf cart is no exception. Whether it's being used on the golf course or in any other setting, safe and proper use of your golf cart is vital -- not just for your own safety and that of your passengers, but for the safety of everyone and everything that might be in your area.
At Cricket Carts Direct, we're happy to assist clients with a wide range of safety themes for our quality Cricket Carts, which we offer in multiple different models depending on your needs. What are some of the most important safety tips we offer to clients? Here are several in this multi-part blog series.
General Inspections and Maintenance
First up, perhaps the single most important safety tip for any kind of golf cart is to ensure that you're regularly conducting general inspections and maintenance on the vehicle. This is true no matter what kind of golf cart you have, how old it is, or how often you use it.
Cricket Carts Direct always recommends that owners conduct a thorough inspection of their carts before each and every use. This should include a check of the brakes, steering, and tires -- looking for any signs of wear or damage. It's also important to make sure that all lights and reflectors are clean and in working order. If you notice any issues during your inspection, be sure to address them before operating the golf cart.
Leaving the Golf Cart
If you're leaving your cart unattended in public for any period of time, there are a couple important safety and security measures to take:
Bring the keys with you: It might seem like an obvious one, but it's worth repeating -- always bring the keys with you when you leave your golf cart, even if it's just for a few minutes. This will help to prevent anyone from taking off with your vehicle while you're not around.
Turn the wheels toward the curb: If you're parking on an incline, it's always a good idea to turn the wheels facing the street or in the direction away from vehicles, pedestrians or impeding obstacles. Set the parking brake if your cart has one to make sure your golf cart doesn't start rolling away.
Avoiding Reckless Driving and Distractions
While actually driving your golf cart, there are a few key things to keep in mind in order to stay safe. First, avoid any and all distractions -- just like you would when behind the wheel of a car. This means no texting, no talking on the phone, and no fiddling with the radio or other controls.
Second, always drive within the posted speed limits, and avoid any reckless or careless driving. This means no swerving in and out of traffic, no driving on the wrong side of the road, and no speeding. Following these basic principles will help to keep you and everyone around you safe while you're operating your golf cart.
In our next blog post, we'll continue this series and discuss more safety elements for your golf cart operations. For more on this, or to learn about any of our quality golf cart products, speak to our team at Cricket Carts Direct today.