Posted on 07/04/2012 5:00:44 AM PDT by rawhide
Some people will go to extreme measures to save money these days, as the residents of one southern state have proven.
South Carolinians are celebrating a new law coming into force, allowing them to drive fuel-efficient golf carts up to four miles from their homes.
Previously the buggies were allowed to be driven just two miles on public roads, but Governor Nikki Haley has signed the law and it will come into effect from October
Owners of the open-sided vehicles will be let loose on the streets among cars and trucks, and the change has been welcomed by residents, eager to ditch their gas-guzzling vehicles in favour of the carts.
Most of the residents at Sun City own golf carts, including Mike Zipes who told the news channel: ‘Four miles seems great and just perfect’.
The carts are forbidden to be driven on major roads, or at speeds in excess of 35 mph, but critics fear the restrictions could prove fruitless
Other rules surrounding the carts will remain in force, including that drivers must be aged 16 or over. Carts are also prohibited from being driven on roads at night.
All but four states in the U.S. allow the controversial vehicles to be driven on public roads, including Alaska and Texas where speeds of up to 45 mph may be reached.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Good idea, but they still won’t boost sales of the Volt.
In Alaska you will absolutely never see any golf cart on a major highway, but you will see the off road versions off the side of the road bouncing through ruts, water and mud at breakneck speeds, they do go through town but at a speed limit.
Those sportier covered large ATV carts are selling like hotcakes in Alaska.
Is there any reciprocity agreement? Can I drive a four wheel drive pickup on a golf course?
So here’s the question:
If a golf cart hits a Smart Car, who wins????
The lawyers.
In The Villages (Florida), where my parents live, there is a significant but carefully covered-up number of auto vs. golf-cart collisions. Booting out the Democrats and producing more and cheaper gas is a much wiser way to approach this issue, imo.
Why is this “neat”? Now they can take their unlicensed vehicle out on the roads and tie up real cars as they meander down the road for 4 miles.
These are people who own huge SUVs and 300+ hp sedans that get crappy gas mileage and, if you sugest they buy an economical car, they get angry and start screaming about their right to own whatever they want. But, then they drive a golf car on the street to save money on gas and impose on the rest of us. I live in an area where these selfish pricks drive their carts on the street. They run stop signs, pull out into traffic as if they were in their high performance car and don’t care about who has to slam on brakes to keep from hitting them. And if traffic is running slow, they just drive up on the sidewalk and use that too!
If they want to travel up to 4 miles economically, they should get a bicycle!
“”If a golf cart hits a Smart Car, who wins????””
A Winner!!!
I don’t know how legal it is but they’ve been driving golf carts around my Michigan hometown for better than 20 years. It started with the owner of the local golf course naturally. When he replaced the old carts with new he sold the old to friends and neighbors.
Its a little rural town off the main roads and the speed limit in town is only 25 anyway.
I think it is neat because I can charge a golf cart at my home and use it for short errands around town, never having to worry about filling it up with gas.
I did a little googling about licensing and I found at least one state, AZ, requires you to have a license on your golf cart and a license to drive it, if you drive it on a public road. I would think other states perhaps similar requirements, including perhaps an insurance requirement.
With that being said, I think it is a neat way to save money and not worry about the cost of gas.
As far as your argument about careless drivers, well, that is another issue, but it does not mean these golf carts cannot be a blessing to many people.
Golf cart have no lights, no signals, no seat belts, no horn, no license plates, no windshield wipers, no side impact protection or airbags. Lastly, don’t all states require insurance. If I am not mistaken, a car has to have all of these things in operational condition in order to operate on our roads. Why is a golf cart exempt? What happens when a golf cart runs over a pedestrian? If we use this logic, I should be able to use a dirtbike or a gocart to run my errands.
I live in SC and see golf carts everywhere in my neighborhood. It’s the norm. Folks who drive them are responsible and careful. No problems. It’s a way of life. I want one!!
You can drive it to Sturgis, if you wish, day and night
A little cold in the winter, wet in the rain
Piaggio MP3 500
Think about it this way. Is the auto industry severly overregulated, driving up the price of vehicles far beyond what consumers are willing to pay? Are consumers willing to trade more risks to their personal safety in order to get vastly cheaper, more economical transportation? If they are, why does the government prefer the overregulated models, and want to force us into them?
Figure the cost per mile from the increased electric bill; I’ll guess that savings are minimal or non-existent.
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