11 November 2025, at 10.25

The Hospitalist Team

Why golf carts and e-scooters are unsafe for children

Golf carts and e-scooters may look harmless, but their lightweight design makes them unstable. They easily tip or lose balance during sharp turns and sudden stops. Both lack basic restraints and impact protection, increasing the risk of falls, collisions and injuries when clothing or accessories become caught in moving parts such as wheels or axles. If a golf cart is hit by a car on the street, its open design and lack of protective features make it less safe than driving a car.

Golf carts were designed to transport adults and equipment around golf courses, not children through crowded neighborhoods. E-scooters were built for short-distance use by adults and can reach speeds that are unsafe for children to control.

Children can be thrown off during fast turns, hit while running alongside, or injured after falling to the pavement. Clothes and loose material can also get caught on handlebars, wheels or open sides and create additional hazards.

Research shows that golf cart injuries are more than twice as high in children as in adults or seniors. Pediatric emergency physicians are also reporting an increasing number of e-scooter injuries, including fractures, concussions and abrasions, often linked to missing helmets or lack of supervision.

Safety reminders for families

Golf carts and e-scooters are not intended for child passengers or unsupervised use. If families choose to use them, safety should come first.

• Only licensed drivers should operate golf carts.
• Children should not ride or ride e-scooters intended for adults.
• Allow plenty of time and distance to brake. Many golf carts only have brakes on the rear wheels, making sudden stops unstable.
• Riders must sit securely in golf carts or stand firmly on e-scooters, keep both feet planted, and use handles or restraints when available.
• Keep arms and legs inside the golf cart and away from wheels or moving parts.
• Wear a helmet when using e-scooters.
• Riders should not get on or off until the golf cart or e-scooter comes to a complete stop.

Be prepared

Golf carts and e-scooters may seem convenient, but they can quickly turn a fun night or any outing into a medical emergency. Plan ahead, set clear ground rules, and know the location of your nearest children’s hospital with an emergency department.

In the event of a medical emergency involving a child, determine where the nearest accredited Level I pediatric trauma center is located. Find the pediatric emergency department in St. Louis Children’s Hospital closest to you.

Lindsay ClukiesMD, is a WashU Medicine Emergency Medicine physician and associate medical director of trauma services at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She cares for children and families in some of their most critical moments and works to promote harm prevention efforts in society. As a mother of three, she brings both medical expertise and a parent’s perspective to her commitment to child safety.

Brittany Kaiser is a certified child passenger safety technician and leading public health educator with St. Louis Children’s Hospital security stop program, which provides trauma injury prevention education to families on topics such as car seats, home, helmets and sleep safety. She has appeared on local media to discuss child safety issues, and has offered education on proper car seat installation and other safety guidelines for parents in St. Louis area.