Is Your Small Vehicle Fleet Safe? The Importance of Regular Check-Ups

So you think that little golf cart is harmless? Think again.

Golf carts and UTVs might look like oversized toys, but they pack a punch when mishandled. Whether you’re hauling gear or giving coworkers a lift, knowing how to prep, drive, and maintain these mini-machines is the difference between a smooth ride and an accident report with your name on it.

Start smart or risk stalling, here’s your pre-drive ritual checklist.

Before you hit the ignition, check yourself (and the cart) before you wreck yourself. That means training, authorization, and some solid cart TLC.

Employer Responsibilities

• Create clear cart rules that even your least safety-conscious coworker can follow.
• Offer training that doesn’t make people yawn through the PowerPoint.
• Get that maintenance schedule tighter than your manager’s Monday deadlines.

Driver Responsibilities

• Be the legal age, have the proper training, and stop pretending the rules don’t apply to you.

Pre-Drive Checklist

• Are your tires sad and deflated? Pump them up.
• Is your accelerator acting clingy? It shouldn’t be.
• Brakes squeaky or sluggish? Get that sorted fast.
• Mirrors, horn, lights, signals, and seatbelts, if any of those fail, you shouldn’t drive.

Driving safe isn’t boring, it’s what keeps your cart out of the incident report.

Basic Driving Tips

• Read the cart manual like it’s a survival guide, it kinda is.
• Before reversing, check the selector and actually look behind you.
• Speed limits exist for a reason, and no, you’re not the exception.
• Ease up near pedestrians, you’re not in a Fast & Furious reboot.

Don’t Be That Driver

• No sharp turns unless you enjoy tipping over in public.
• Save the stunts for action movies, not parking lots.
• Eat your sandwich after you park. And put your phone down, seriously.
• If you’re buzzed, drowsy, or on meds that say “do not operate machinery,” don’t drive.

Passengers Are Not Cargo

• Make sure they’re seated. No hanging off like they’re on a roller coaster.
• Keep arms, legs, and wild behavior inside the vehicle at all times.

Tricky Situations 101

• Slopes? Head on, not sideways. This isn’t a stunt show.
• Heavy loads? Don’t stack like Tetris and expect it to work out.
• Rain, fog, or heat? Adjust your speed like a weather-aware legend.

When You Park, Actually Park

• Brake on. Keys out. Exit like a pro.
• And please, don’t block ramps or fire zones. Not cool.

Maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it’s your cart’s lifeline.

Power Up or Gas Up Safely

• Electric Carts: Charge in ventilated areas. Sparks are cute in rom-coms, not in garages.
• Gas Carts: Refuel with the engine off and nowhere near open flames. Do we even have to say this?

Storage Smarts

• Inside is ideal. Outside? Cover that baby up.
• Keep them away from flammables and thieves. A locked cart is a safe cart.

Routine Checks = Fewer Regrets

• Inspect those tires, brakes, and batteries like your workweek depends on it.
• Book regular checkups with someone who actually knows what they’re doing.
• Log everything. If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.

Be the cart MVP, prep right, drive safe, and treat maintenance like a ritual.

• Prep: Know the rules, do the checks, and own the responsibility.
• Drive: Be smart, be chill, and don’t do donuts in the parking lot.
• Maintain: Charge right, fuel safely, and store smart. It pays off.

Want to sharpen your cart skills and rule the road responsibly?

Our Small Vehicle Safety: Golf Carts and UTVs Training Course covers it all, from pre-checks to pro-level driving habits. It’s basically the GPS for safer small vehicle operations.

If you want to level up even more, check out our General Safety: Safe Driving Basics Training Course. It’s your go-to for mastering driving smarts across the board, carts included.

References

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Motor Vehicle Safety
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Traffic Safety Facts 2021 Data: Overview
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – Center for Motor Vehicle Safety