Is this the silliest federal regulation ever? NHTSA mandates seatbelts on golf carts

What's next: Airbags for zambonis? Seatbelts for steamrollers?

That's what Libertarians are asking after the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced last week that it will start requiring seatbelts, windshields, turn signals, and rearview mirrors on golf carts.

Golf carts? Yes, golf carts.

"Are crash test dummies writing these regulations now?" asked Steve Dasbach, the chairman of the Libertarian Party. "Or are federal bureaucrats just running out of things to regulate?"

NHTSA bureaucrats announced that they will start enforcing the new regulation -- called Standard No. 100 -- this spring. The agency will reclassify many golf carts as "low-speed vehicles" and mandate an estimated $400 to $1,000 worth of safety features.

"This is a typical case of government bureaucrats protecting us from a so-called problem that doesn't exist -- and mandating an expensive solution that we have to pay for," said Dasbach.

Standard No. 100 will cover all golf carts with a top speed of 25 mph. It will primarily affect the slow-moving "golf carts" used by senior citizens in retirement communities -- but might also include some golf carts used on golf courses.

Are golf carts a safety hazard?

Even NHTSA had to admit they're not: The agency was unable to find any evidence that the slow-moving vehicles are dangerous. In fact, officials from several towns that allow golf carts in traffic testified that they could recall only one golf cart accident -- and it was caused by a joyriding teenager.

"Let's face it: There is no national crisis caused by senior citizens hot-rodding around at 20 miles per hour in golf carts," said Dasbach. "The only crisis we have is too many federal bureaucrats looking for excuses to expand their regulatory empires."

Dasbach said the Libertarian Party planned to speak out against the new regulations in early 1997 when the NHTSA was first considering them -- but "we were afraid people would think we were making this up," he said.

"After all, who would believe the federal government would do something as ridiculous as require rearview mirrors and seatbelts on golf carts?" asked Dasbach. "No wonder so many Americans think the federal government is a joke!"

But there's a serious side to the issue, too, he said.

"Libertarians oppose these new regulations because they're not needed -- but also because they might make these environmentally friendly vehicles too expensive for many people," he said.

"Keep in mind, these are electrically powered, low-emission vehicles, used by many people instead of cars. So what does the government do? It boosts the price of golf carts by as much as 25% by mandating useless safety equipment. The result? Golf carts might be priced out of the reach of many people -- so more people will use more automobiles and cause more pollution."

The only question now, said Dasbach is: "What will government bureaucrats mandate next: Seatbelts on sleds? Rearview mirrors on riding lawn-mowers? Parking brakes on skateboards?

"When it comes to creating foolish and expensive regulations, NHTSA bureaucrats are unsafe at any speed."

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Sharon Madison is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-in-golf.com. A source of information on golf equipment, golf manufacturers, supplies, tips and more.