University Golf Cart Safety Standards

1. Golf carts shall be operated with the utmost courtesy, care and consideration for the safety and convenience of pedestrians. Pedestrians shall be afforded the right-of-way at all times.

2. Each requirement of this policy applicable to safety and considerations for care and courtesy shall be applied for persons in wheelchairs or any type of mobility assistance device.

3. Golf carts shall be operated in such manner that they do not impede or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow on roadways, ramps or sidewalks.

4. Supervisors shall assure that each employee within their unit, who is authorized to operate golf carts, is appropriately advised of all the requirements of the University Policy #15.9.

5. Supervisors shall obtain, and maintain on file, a statement signed by each employee who has been authorized to operate golf carts, attesting to their knowledge and understanding of the University Golf Cart Safety Policy. Please see Golf Cart Safety Information Acknowledgement Form.

6. Supervisors shall assure that employees review the University Golf Cart Safety Policy at least annually and shall consider comments and concerns, observed or reported, regarding each operator’s compliance with the University Golf Cart Safety Policy at the time of employee performance appraisals.

7. Supervisors shall implement procedures for control of golf carts registered to their department. Such procedures may include the use of a "sign-out log" for keys.

8. Golf cart operators shall be responsible for the security of ignition keys for the period that a cart is assigned to them.

9. Golf carts shall be operated within the confines of University premises only.

10. Any individual or entity who is not an employee, agent or volunteer of the University, who wishes to use University golf carts shall seek written permission from the supervisor of the department to which the vehicle is registered, and approval from the Department of Environmental Health & Safety and Risk Management Services. Please see Golf Cart Use Agreement.

11. Authorization to operate a golf cart is contingent on the possession of a valid driver’s license. Employees shall immediately notify their supervisor if and when their driver’s license is suspended or revoked.

12. State employees, officers and agents, contractors, vendors or volunteers to the University are the only passengers permitted on those golf carts intended for the servicing of University buildings and facilities. Use of these golf carts to transport passengers other than those mentioned above invalidates the property insurance coverage of these carts.

13. Supervisors shall assure that golf carts are operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Golf carts shall not be modified in any manner that affects the recommended mode of operation, speed or safety of the vehicle.

14. Any golf cart intended to be operated in excess of 15 miles per hour shall be equipped with specific safety features that include, but are not limited to seat belts, windshields, headlights and rear-view mirrors. All speed limits shall be observed.

15. Golf carts intended for use between dusk and dawn, regardless of operating speeds, shall be equipped with headlights.

16. Supervisors shall assure that each golf cart is tagged with the maximum load capacity recommended by the manufacturer. Golf carts equipped with a back carriage shall not be overloaded. Overloading decreases maneuverability and safe operation.

17. Employees shall not operate golf carts owned by other departments unless approval has been granted by the supervisor of the department/unit to which the golf cart is registered.

18. Golf carts shall be operated in compliance with the common "rules of the road" regardless of whether carts are being operated on sidewalks or roadways.

19. Golf carts shall be equipped with a functional horn.

20. Operators of golf carts which are not equipped with turn indicators shall use appropriate hand signals.

21. Each golf cart operated on University premises shall bear the "HOW IS MY DRIVING" sign, affixed in a highly visible location on the rear of the vehicle.

22. Golf carts intended for operation in parking garages shall be equipped with strobes and back-up alarms. Installation of back-up alarms on all golf carts is strongly recommended.

23. Each golf cart shall bear the "GOLF CART SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS" sign, affixed in a highly visible location inside the vehicle.

24. All accidents involving golf carts shall be reported to the supervisor of the department to which the vehicle is registered, and to the Department of Environmental Health & Safety and Risk Management Services, regardless of whether property or personal injury occurred. Police reports shall be filed as appropriate.

25. Each operator shall be responsible to provide timely notification of safety and maintenance concerns regarding golf carts to the Facilities Maintenance Vehicle Service Unit and the supervisor of the department to which the vehicle is registered.

26. Golf carts shall be operated in accordance with the following specific rules:

Golf carts shall not be parked within 6-8 feet of the entrance or exit of any building, except at loading docks.
Operators shall stop golf carts at all blind intersections and sound their horns before proceeding.
Golf carts shall not be parked in any manner likely to obstruct or interfere with the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in heavily traveled areas. Pedestrians as used here, shall include persons in wheelchairs or mobility assistance devices.
Operators shall not stop (bring a golf cart to rest for any period of time) in the middle of roads and walkways.
Special care shall be taken while driving golf carts through parking lots and on walkways. Golf carts shall not be operated at speeds in excess of 15 miles per hour in these areas.
Golf carts shall not be driven through buildings except under the following circumstances:

Police or medical emergency.

In order to provide maintenance service at a location in a specific building to which equipment and supplies, but not people, are being transported to the work site.

In order to make a delivery of materials which cannot be otherwise transported to a specific location in a building.

Where circumstances warrant, as described by a, b and c above, the operators of a golf cart in or through any University building shall take the route least disruptive to building occupants and shall follow all other policy conditions and operating requirements.