Injuries caused by golf carts — which are increasingly common and sometimes fatal — should be considered “a public health problem,” according to experts who want seat belts installed.
“It is urgent to take measures to prevent injuries related to golf carts,” warned health professionals from Unity Health Toronto in their study published Monday in the “Canadian Medical Association Journal”.
Used on golf courses, but also sometimes in universities or on private properties, carts are believed to be involved in several cases of injuries. Thus, in 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics listed more than 6,500 cases per year, which represents an increase compared to 5,490 cases in 2010.
If 43% of these injuries are superficial, some of them can be much more serious by affecting the neck and head, which sometimes happens in cases of ejection from the vehicle or overturning of the cart, which are the accidents the most common.
Remember that these vehicles are well equipped with emergency brakes, mirrors and reflectors, but restraint devices such as seat belts or lap bars, front windshields, side doors and airbags are rare.
“Injuries caused by golf carts constitute a public health problem that requires urgent attention from governments and public and private organizations,” the specialists insisted in their study.
They say the introduction of mandatory seat belts could prevent many serious accidents and should “become standard equipment”.
“Roll bars to prevent passengers from being trapped by the vehicle should also be part of the standard,” they added in their recommendations.
Related News :