A Florida law went into effect on October 1, 2023 that imposes certain restrictions on persons under 18 years of age from operating golf carts on public roads. The legislation requires that all golf cart operators carry a government issued I.D. such as a driver’s license even if they are 18 years old or older.
A 15-year-old may still operate a golf cart with a valid driver’s permit and teens 16 years of age and older will need a valid driver’s license. Previously, Florida law allowed a 14-year-old to drive a golf cart. Now no one under 15 years of age is legally permitted to operate a golf cart in Florida.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 6,500 children are injured in golf cart accidents each year. Just more than half those injured are children under 12. Not too long ago, a 3-year-old driving a golf cart struck and killed a 7-year-old in Fort Myers, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol.
In the interest of safety we encourage all Grandezza golf cart owners to exercise good judgment by not allowing underage drivers to operate golf carts in the community and to follow the guidelines set forth in the new Florida law.
