Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Golf carts are not cars. The state has the responsibility to regulate motorized vehicles but they must recognize that carts with governors that limit their speed to 12 m.p.h. in communities designed to accommodate them need different limits.

As someone who constantly battles fatigue I rely on my golf cart as transportation when I know I cannot safely drive my car at street speeds. Like a new driver or senior citizen, it gives me the safety buffer I need to be mobile while limiting the challenges. It is why we fought to return our teen driving age to 15. It is the step between riding a bicycle and driving a car and as so needs to be regulated differently.

Laws need to reflect the different needs of different communities. The recent law case involving golf carts and licensing is no surprise. It was commented on it last fall when we were changing the teen driving age back to 15. Now I understand why when I attempted to get interest in a parent-teen golf cart seminar before summer started (helping both recognize the signs of responsible teens and responsible drivers), there was no response.

We must encourage and protect the rights of senior citizens and those who recognize their limits and choose to drive golf carts instead of cars. This does not have to include alcohol-induced limits that result in reckless driving.

Our duly elected city officials knew the risk of this happening. Our locally elected state officials could have headed it off in January during the legislative session. We need our representatives to protect our rights before they are eliminated.

Where were you?

Kathie Cheney

Peachtree City, Ga.