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Florida public safety officials say unruly children, drunk housewives and people who don’t care about safety are to blame for the alarming increase in golf cart fires, explosions and serious accidents in the state.
Electric vehicles, once limited to cruising the countryside, are everywhere in the Sunshine State’s bustling communities, which advertise themselves as “golf cart friendly.”
But emergency service officials told The Post that has led to a sharp increase in golf cart-related mayhem, from garage explosions to serious injury accidents caused by alcohol.
“Now we see it all,” said a veteran emergency worker in The Villages.
“There are housewives who get drunk during lunch, get into their carts and crash.
“There are kids doing donuts and turning around. Sometimes cars catch fire. Most people are responsible. But a lot of people are not.”
Jacksonville Fire Department Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said he has seen a marked increase in golf cart fires lately, where batteries overheat and ignite due to substandard components or overcharging.
A teenager suffered burns after a golf cart caught fire in his Martin County garage last month. WPTV A Jacksonville home caught fire after a golf cart caught fire in the garage. News4Jax
With many homeowners putting their vehicles inside their garage or in their driveways, entire houses have gone up in flames in a matter of minutes.
An 18-year-old Martin County man suffered burns in November after his family’s car suddenly caught fire in the garage and engulfed the house.
The teenager suffered the injuries after trying, unsuccessfully, to save his dog from the fire. He later made a full recovery after several days on a ventilator.
A 3-year-old girl and her mother were seriously injured and two other people were hospitalized in North Lauderdale earlier this month after their home caught fire in the middle of the night.
Local officials believe the fire was started by a golf cart charging onto their property.
Officials said they are seeing a sharp increase in golf cart fires. News4Jax
In The Villages, three golf carts suddenly burst into flames on the street in recent months, and an inferno broke out during a busy outdoor festival.
“They are becoming more prevalent now simply because they are more prevalent in the market,” Prosswimmer said.
Many of the fires are due to owners seeking to cut costs by using chargers or other components made overseas and lightly regulated, he said.
As the niche becomes increasingly lucrative and competitive, Prosswimmer said some sellers are reducing their overhead by using discounted parts.
“In a controlled environment, they’re fine,” he said. “But every time there is an explosion in demand, there will be unscrupulous people. In the future, it will become a bigger problem.”
Serious golf cart accidents, a Florida attorney told The Post, are becoming almost an epidemic.
Attorney Frank Butler, who specializes in golf cart cases, said the vehicles are integrating into commercial areas and mixing with regular vehicle traffic.
That combination, he said, has kept the phones in his office ringing.
“Many small towns are passing laws to make their town centers golf cart accessible,” he said. “I don’t think the risks are fully appreciated. “We are seeing an increase in accidents and collisions across the board.”
Butler said many owners view their stroller as a “carefree” means of transportation, often not bothering to buckle up or drive safely.
Most people load their golf carts in the garage, putting their homes at risk in the event of a fire. News4Jax
Injuries, he said, are usually serious due to the almost complete lack of protection in the event of an accident.
From devastating orthopedic damage to death, he’s seen the gamut.
The veteran lifeguard from The Villages reported that many golf cart incidents involve alcohol.
Drivers consider the chances of encountering the police while traveling 20 miles per hour on a golf cart path to be slim and therefore take liberties with libations.
And while it’s technically illegal, some parents allow their minor children to drive their strollers, adding another layer of risk to the electric vehicle equation.
“Put it all together and you have a problem,” said one EMT. “I’m all for having a good time, but I know what you’re getting into.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn