Title: Golf Cart and Utility Vehicle Use Policy
Effective Date: 05/01/2016
Issuing Authority: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Contact: drivers@stolaf.edu or 507-786-3016
Last Updated: 05/15/2023
Purpose of Policy
The purpose of this policy is to define who may operate a St. Olaf College golf/utility cart, identify the required training for cart/utility vehicle drivers, establish procedures and practices that promote safe operations, and provide for the safety of St. Olaf students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
The scope of this policy applies to, but may not be limited to, the following:
- Courtesy transportation for students, faculty, staff, visitors and persons with physical disabilities.
- General employee use for campus transportation.
- Delivering and transporting items that are too large/bulky to be carried by hand.
- Providing access to areas where a road-licensed/use vehicle may have difficulty navigating.
- Avoiding damage to landscaping or other property that may occur with road-licensed/use vehicles.
- Special events such as commencement, camps, institutional activities, etc.
- Transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous chemicals.
Who Needs to Know This Policy
This policy applies to all members of the St. Olaf community including faculty, staff, and students who operate carts/utility vehicles on campus.
Definition of Carts
This policy provides guidelines for the operation of electric or gasoline-powered carts, golf carts and similar type utility vehicles (hereafter “carts”) on St. Olaf properties, including traveling to and from campus locations that are separated by property owned by others and travel on public roadways.
Policy
1. Use of Golf Carts/Utility Vehicles – Golf cart/utility vehicles may only be used for official St. Olaf College business by approved drivers. Golf cart/utility vehicles may not be used for personal business such as unauthorized home-to-office travel.
Golf cart/utility vehicle operation is governed under Minnesota Statutes and operators are subject to the rules of the road, including stopping, turning and safe operation. Knowledge of and compliance with applicable state laws, rules, regulations, and policies are the responsibility of the driver and noncompliance may result in suspension of user privileges. Golf cart/utility operators observed in violation of these rules can be cited by Public Safety.
Operators should always consider the terrain, weather conditions, and existing pedestrian and vehicular traffic, which may affect the ability to operate the golf cart/utility vehicle safely. Golf cart/utility vehicles are not to be driven on any landscaped area unless it is the only available way to gain access to the specific area where work is being performed.
2. Driver Qualifications – In order to qualify as a St. Olaf College golf cart/utility vehicle driver, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- you must be at least 18 years of age,
- you must have a minimum of one-year auto driving experience,
- you must be an employee of or student at St. Olaf College,
- you must complete the St. Olaf College required online training course,
- students must complete the hands on cart use and safety training.
Once you have been cleared to drive, you will be added to the list of authorized golf cart/utility vehicle campus drivers for up to a period of two years.
3. Permitted Access and Routes of Travel – Golf cart/utility vehicles will be operated only within the confines of St. Olaf College property. At no time shall golf carts or utility vehicles be driven off St. Olaf College property as they are not licensed vehicles; some Facilities staff may be exempt due to the location of the Facilities warehouse.
4. Driver Rules of Safety – Carts shall be operated in accordance with the following specific rules:
- Cart operators shall never operate the cart while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Operators using prescribed medication that cause drowsiness or any type
of impairment should not drive carts. - Carts shall be operated with the utmost courtesy, care and consideration for the safety and convenience of other vehicles and pedestrians. In congested pedestrian
areas, operators must either park or reduce speed and proceed at a pace consistent with that of nearby pedestrians. Pedestrians shall be afforded the right-of-way at all times. This includes persons walking, jogging, bicycling, and those in wheelchairs or mobility assistance devices. - Carts must be inspected before each use; a pre-trip inspection of the lights, brakes, steering, horn, back-up alarm and tire inflation shall be conducted. Inoperable equipment identified during the inspection must be repaired before operating the cart.
- Equipment problems or any other cart related problem(s) shall be reported to the department supervisor to which the cart is registered.
- All occupants in the cart shall keep hands, arms, legs and feet within the confines of the cart while it is in motion.
- The maximum speed on campus roads is the lower of 15 mph or the applicable posted speed limit.
- Drivers must follow a safe driving distance from the vehicle ahead.
- While driving carts through parking lots, special care shall be taken to observe traffic and vehicles pulling in/out of parking spaces.
- Drivers shall not wear headphones, use cell phones or use/operate any other device that may cause a distraction, including text messaging.
- Items being transported in carts must be placed in the rear box and properly secured. Hand carts will not occupy seating areas.
- The ignition key shall be removed when leaving the cart.
- All carts left outside overnight are to be secured by removing keys, cable locked or alternative method.
- Carts shall not be modified in any manner that affects the recommended mode of operation, speed or safety of the vehicle.
- The maximum load capacity, recommended by the manufacturer, either by number of occupants or weight of the passengers and load, shall never be exceeded.
- Vehicles without headlights and/or taillights are to be used only during day time operations.
- Drivers of carts that are not equipped with turn indicators shall use appropriate hand signals.
- Carts are to be recharged directly at appropriate electrical outlets. Use of extension
cords from inside buildings to carts is prohibited. - Neither passengers nor cargo shall be placed on the roof of the cart.
- Carts shall never be used to transport Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulated hazardous waste.
- Carts shall be parked and/or operated in such manner that they do not block or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow on roadways, ramps or sidewalks. Carts will not be parked:
- In fire lanes.
- In handicap parking spaces (unless proper permit is acquired).
- In any manner that would block the normal flow of pedestrian traffic or
building entrances and exits. - On sidewalks or ramps that would impede pedestrian or handicap accessibility
5. Accident and Maintenance Reporting – All accidents involving carts shall be reported immediately to Public Safety at (507) 786-3666 and the supervisor of the department to which the cart is registered. An Incident Report must be completed by Public Safety, regardless of whether property or personal injury occurred. In the event that the incident occurs after hours or on weekends, the driver shall contact Public Safety.
Each driver shall be responsible for providing timely notification of safety and maintenance concerns to the department to which the cart is registered.
Responsibilities
The department supervisor is responsible to ensure training is satisfactorily completed, provide for annual maintenance of vehicles, maintain compliance, and address enforcement and violations of this policy. Faculty, staff, and student operators are responsible to complete training and operate golf cart/utility vehicles in accordance with this policy. The Executive Administrative Assistant in the Finance Office is responsible to track cart operator authorizations.