Tennessee Injury Law Center
In subdivisions all around Middle Tennessee, you routinely see teenagers driving golf carts with their friends. At lake communities, neighbors use them to get down to the water and to get to the neighborhood get-together. In downtown Franklin, residents use them to go to dinner. And while golf carts are fun, they can be dangerous. And depending upon how you are using them, you could be breaking the law. In fact, Tennessee law has different requirements depending upon the speed capabilities of the vehicle. Read on to learn more about Tennessee law regarding golf carts and how to protect yourself if there is an accident.
First, what type of vehicle do you have? Tennessee law defines a golf cart as “a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and equipped with safety belts installed for use in the left front and right front seats and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty miles per hour (20 mph).” Golf carts are not permitted on city streets. In fact, earlier this year, the City of Franklin Police Department issued a notice that city police would begin citing golf cart drivers on city streets.
A cart that can reach speeds of up to 25 mph is considered a “low-speed vehicle”. It can be titled and registered with the State of Tennessee and is permitted on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less UNLESS the county or municipality determines it should be prohibited from the roads in the interest of safety.
A medium-speed vehicle is one “whose top speed is greater than thirty miles per hour (30 mph) but not greater than thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph). Just like a low-speed vehicle, a medium-speed vehicle can be titled and registered and it can be operated on city streets with a posted speed limit of 40 mph or less, UNLESS it has been prohibited by the local authorities.
Now that you know how the law classifies golf carts, let’s talk about some important legal requirements. First, if you own a low-speed or medium-speed vehicle, it must be equipped in accordance with 49 CFR 571.500. Some key equipment it must have includes:
- Headlamps
- Front and rear turn signals
- Tail lamps
- Stop lamps
- Reflex reflectors
- A driver’s side mirror and either a passenger side mirror or an interior rearview mirror
- A parking brake
- A windshield in compliance with federal glazing standards
- A vehicle identification number
- Seatbelts at each seating position
- Registration with license plate
- Proof of insurance
Of course, this equipment is required because low-speed and medium-speed vehicles are permitted on certain city streets. Anyone operating a low-speed or medium speed vehicle must have a Class D driver’s license in their possession while operating the vehicle. This means that teenagers who are not legally permitted to drive a car are legally prohibited from driving a low-speed or medium-speed vehicle. Allowing a person who does not have a valid driver’s license to operate the vehicle could void your insurance coverage, and in the event of a serious accident, this could put your personal assets at risk.
Other legal considerations include: complying with seatbelt and child restraint laws and not operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Finally, speeding is still prohibited. Simply because you are in medium-speed vehicle does not absolve you from driving the speed limit including in school zones.
At the Law Offices of John Day, our award-winning attorneys have handled cases involving serious injuries from golf cart accidents including brain injuries and orthopedic injuries, and we have personal experience with a person needing Life Flight following a golf cart accident. Again, golf carts are fun, but they can be dangerous, and it is critically important for owners to follow Tennessee law for their safety, their passengers’ safety and the safety of others.
If you have been injured in a golf cart accident, give us a call to discuss your case. We offer a free consultation, and we handle all golf cart accidents on a contingency basis, so it costs you nothing to understand your options and pursue your legal rights. While our offices are in Middle Tennessee, we handle golf cart cases across the State of Tennessee.
Nashville: 615-669-3993
Murfreesboro: 615-867-9900
Brentwood: 615-742-4880
Toll-Free: 866-812-8787