In our last post, we were talking about golf cart accidents, in particular a recent accident on Hilton Head Island that resulted in a 27-year-old woman's death. This kind of accident is a rare occurrence in South Carolina's Beaufort County: Officials estimate the past decade saw just half a dozen.

A Hilton Head resident says accidents there mostly happen to people who aren't used to driving or riding in carts. It's easy to fall out of a cart taking a corner at 10 or 15 mph, he said, if you're not paying attention.

The South Carolina General Assembly considered a bill that would have restricted the operation of golf carts on streets. Carts would only be permitted on secondary highways or roads with posted speed limits no higher than 35 mph.

The two-mile limit currently in place would be expanded to four miles from the registered address of the cart. Registrants living in a gated community could take their carts four miles from the entrance.

Not just anyone would be able to drive a golf cart, either. Drivers would have to be 16 or older with a valid driver's license. And, drivers would have to carry license, registration and proof of insurance with them at all times.

One thing the bill did not mention is seat belts. After the fatal accident, golf cart dealers told the press they had been approached by a number of people about installing seat belts in their carts. Depending on the make and model, seat belts cost as little as $25 each.

Still, a seat belt won't help the person who stands on the back, drinking a beer and holding a cigar. Cart dealers and manufacturers maintain that the number of accidents would drop dramatically if drivers and passengers abided by basic safety guidelines.

Sources:

The State, "Golf cart accident raises safety concerns," Cassie Foss, 07/09/2011

South Carolina General Assembly, 119th Session, 2011-2012, House Bill 3259