The legality and regulations surrounding golf cart operation on public roadways vary significantly. Generally, standard golf carts are not street legal due to lacking safety features required for vehicles operating amongst higher-speed traffic. However, some jurisdictions permit low-speed vehicles (LSVs), which are essentially modified golf carts equipped with necessary safety additions like seat belts, turn signals, and headlights, on specific roads with posted speed limits typically not exceeding 35 mph. These regulations address the use of small, often electric, vehicles within limited areas, offering an alternative form of transportation under controlled conditions.
Permitting LSV operation provides benefits including reduced traffic congestion and lower emissions, particularly in smaller communities with designated LSV routes. The historical context of this issue stems from the increasing popularity of golf carts and the need to define their permissible usage beyond golf courses and private properties. This led to the development of LSV regulations as a way to accommodate the desire for convenient, short-distance transportation while maintaining public safety standards.
