Wednesday, August 6, 2003

I have personally seen many incidents where [cart] drivers have been driving through these paths extremely fast, endangering other drivers. Most of these drivers were adolescents barely in their teens.

There have been an increasing number of complaints by citizens of these fast and dangerous drivers. They are not wanted on the trails by most of the community and the state. However there are still those citizens who have not seen this heinous driving and may not realize how big of a safety issue this is. For whatever their reason may be, they still feel that the actions taken regarding a safer cart path were not necessary.

With all of these careless adolescent drivers there has been an increase in the number of accidents while driving these golf carts. These golf carts may not seem to be of any danger, but driving over 12 mph on a single lane cart path could produce some seriously injured drivers. They feel that there must be terms and regulations set to improve the efficient transportation and safety that once was present on these paths. However, this cannot be done without support from the Peachtree City citizens.

Citizens such as Councilman Steve Rapson are complaining with the decision and feel, "This decision strikes at the heart of our quality of life." Well, if safe cart paths and mature drivers "strike," or depreciate, Peachtree City's quality of life, there is an even bigger problem.

There is an evident improvement here: golf cart path safety and an improved, more efficient and safe quality of life.

The decision made to place law enforcement on these paths has angered and upset some. City Manager Bernard J. McMullen has written a letter to the state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland in an effort to have this decision made by the municipal court. The cart drivers of Peachtree city believe that if the decision were to be made by municipal authorities that it would turn out differently.

Whatever they believe, the fact is that there is dangerous driving each day on these paths and something has to be done about it. These problem drivers are seen everyday and constantly reported. The citizens of Peachtree City must realize the importance of patrolled cart pathways. With the paths regulated by law enforcement there would be a much smoother golf cart traffic flow with many safer pathways.

The traffic flow, along with carefree drivers, will only increase if this decision to regulate the paths is taken away. The legislature and many wise citizens see the need for this enforcement. Anyone who does not should simply go out and see how much better the cart traffic is than what it used to be.

So, should the cart paths remain safe, with smooth flowing traffic, or should it go back to the days of high speed, adolescent filled paths?

Nicholas S. Ward

Fayetteville, Ga.