Those who operate golf carts will soon have a new set of guidelines to follow that should make navigating campus safer for everyone.

University leaders asked the Environmental Health and Safety Committee to recommend a set of guidelines after receiving feedback about the growing number of motorized carts in operation on campus.

University leaders asked the Environmental Health and Safety Committee to recommend a set of golf cart guidelines after receiving feedback about the growing number of motorized carts in operation on campus. The university is asking that all carts go through a Nov. 1 checkpoint at the Motor Pool area to get their cart registered and receive the new guidelines. (MTSU News and Media Relations)

“I appreciate the thoughtful deliberation and conclusions by the committee,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “They have put forward a common-sense approach that balances the needs of our community with the proper ambiance of our campus.”

The carts travel in areas frequented by the thousands of pedestrians on campus daily. Coupled with the growing number of bicycles in use, university administration thought it prudent to establish some general guidelines to improve driver safety, passenger safety and theft prevention as well as help preserve campus landscaping.

All drivers of golf carts, cart-type electric vehicles, gaiters, trucksters and similar vehicles need to bring their cart to a drive-through checkpoint from 8 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 1 at the Motor Pool area on the northeast side of campus.

Call Motor Pool at 898-2415 if you are not sure if your cart is in one of these categories.

At the checkpoint:

• Carts will be assigned a number if they don’t already have one.
• Guidelines will be given to the driver to read and sign.
• A ‘How’s My Driving?’ decal will be placed on the back of the cart.
• A ‘quick reference’ card with guidelines will be placed on the steering wheel.
• A Public Safety officer will inventory the cart, take a photo and mark the cart in case of theft.

If you are responsible for or drive an MTSU golf cart, you will need to check the MTSU website under Public Safety/News Announcements or the Environmental Health and Safety website, www.mtsu.edu/ehs/, for instructions related to complyingwith the new golf cart guidelines.

A map of preferred golf cart routes will also be on these websites.

Examples of some of the guidelines include:

• Drivers are to slow down or stop at blind intersections.
• Drivers are to drive carefully, be courteous and yield to pedestrians.
• Passengers must be in a passenger seat with limbs inside.
• Do not leave keys in parked carts.

For a full list of the guidelines, visit www.mtsu.edu/ehs/.

How will the guidelines be enforced?

• A Safe Driving Hotline has been created — 494-7885 — with a voicemail that redirects calls to an Environmental Health and Safety email box.
• The hotline number will be on the back of each golf cart and anyone can call this number to report unsafe driving.
• Environmental Health and Safety will notify the University department that owns the vehicle and report the incident.

This effort is part of the True Blue Respect campaign, a campus-wide awareness campaign that encourages the community to respect public spaces and property.