To Forward!… to the Fire!
Florida public safety officials say unsupervised children, drunken housewives and safety-conscious people are to blame for an alarming increase in golf cart fires, explosions and serious accidents in the state.
Once limited to installations across the links, electric vehicles are now ubiquitous in busy Sunshine State communities, which bill themselves as “golf cart friendly.”
But, emergency services officials told The Post, that has led to a sharp increase in golf cart-related mayhem — from garage explosions to alcohol-fueled crashes with serious injuries.
“We’re seeing everything now,” said a veteran emergency worker in The Villages, about an hour northwest of Florida.
“You have housewives who get drunk at lunch and get into their car and crash.
“You have a child making donuts and upside down. Trains sometimes catch fire. Most people are responsible. But most people are not like that.”
Jacksonville Fire Department Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said he’s seen a significant increase in golf cart fires lately, where batteries overheat and ignite due to poor quality components or overcharging.
A teenager suffered burns after a golf cart caught fire in his Martin County garage last month. WPTV A home in Jacksonville caught fire after a golf cart caught fire in their garage. News4Jax
With many owners storing their vehicles in garages or in their driveways, entire homes were up in flames within minutes.
An 18-year-old Martin County boy suffered burns in November after his family’s car caught fire in their garage and engulfed their home.
The teenager was injured after failing to save his dog from the fire. He then made a full recovery after a few days on a ventilator.
A 3-year-old boy and his mother were seriously injured and two others were hospitalized in North Lauderdale earlier this month after their home caught fire in the middle of the night.
Local officials believe the fire started from a golf cart being charged on their property.
Officials say they’re seeing a sharp increase in golf cart fires. News4Jax
In The Villages, three golf carts have caught fire on the street in recent months — with one inferno breaking out during a crowded outdoor festival.
“They’re becoming more prevalent now just because they’re more prevalent in the market,” Prosswimmer said.
Most of the fires are caused by owners who want to cut costs by using foreign-made and light-controlled chargers or other components, he said.
With niches becoming increasingly profitable and competitive, Prosswimmer said some sellers are lowering their overhead by using cut-rate parts.
“In a controlled environment they are fine,” he said. “But any time there’s an explosion in demand you’re going to have some irresponsible people. Going forward, it will be more of a problem.”
Serious golf cart accidents, a Florida attorney told The Post, are approaching an epidemic.
Attorney Frank Butler, who specializes in golf cart cases, said the vehicles are increasingly being integrated into commercial areas and mixing with normal vehicular traffic.
The mix-up, he said, had his office phone ringing.
“A lot of small towns are passing laws to make their downtowns golf cart accessible,” he said. “I don’t think the risk is fully appreciated. We are seeing an increase in crashes and accidents across the board.”
Butler says many owners see their trolleys as a “carefree” mode of transport, often not bothering to fasten seat belts or drive carefully.
Most people charge their golf carts in their garages, which puts their homes at risk in the event of a fire. News4Jax
Injuries, he said, are often serious due to the near lack of protection in the event of an accident.
From catastrophic orthopedic damage to death, he saw it all.
Veteran emergency responders from The Villages report that many golf cart incidents involve alcohol.
The driver saw the possibility of encountering law enforcement while doing 20 miles per hour down a thin golf cart path, and thus took liberties with the drink.
And while it’s technically illegal, some parents allow their young children to drive their cars, adding another layer of risk to the electric vehicle equation.
“Put it all together and you’ve got a problem,” said one EMT. “I like to have fun, but just know what you’re getting into.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
