Wednesday, July 9, 2003

As a 15-year resident of Peachtree City I wonder what the proponents of 15-year-olds driving golf carts by themselves were thinking.

Most 15-year-olds do not possess the skills or maturity to drive a cart without direct supervision. My kids are grown now, but they had accidents when they were allowed to drive at 16.

I have been forced off the paths by speeding teens numerous times and had I not been paying attention in most cases serious injury would have occurred.

I have found on other occasions carts turned over with teens pinned underneath bloodied and battered. Hey, folks, there are reasons the state doesn't allow 15-year-olds to drive on the highways, so why should the hundred miles or so of unlighted curved cart paths be any different?

There are some kids who are responsible to drive by themselves, but there must be a minimum age for all drivers, carts included.

Most cart paths cross major intersections or roads, and I have had carts with drivers of all ages try to beat it across in front of me.

Parents who think that their Johnny or Suzie will not misbehave or make a judgement error in traffic while driving a cart need to pull their heads out of the sand and look at reality.

Alan Davis

Peachtree City, Ga.