Golf Cart Operation Policy:

Golf/Maintenance carts are primarily utilized for convenient travel.  Carts are utilized to assist in transporting passengers, goods and services about the main campus grounds.  The slow speed and small size of the vehicle grants access to points on campus not accessible to road-certified vehicles.

Golf/Maintenance carts are available for use by cart authorized Palomar College students, faculty, staff and volunteer drivers.  Vehicles may only be used in order to facilitate official college business, student life, athletic and academic activities.  Personal use is not allowed.

Authorized Golf Cart Driver Defined:

An authorized golf/maintenance cart driver is defined by the College as any person whom operates a college owned, rented or leased golf/maintenance cart and said driver possess all of the following:

• Maintained an approved driver history
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Possess a valid Palomar College Cart driver’s license
• Possess a valid United States driver’s license
• Successfully reviewed the Palomar College Environmental Health & Safety Campus Cart Training and completed the quiz.

Disability Resource Center Mobility Service Procedure:

The College’s Disability Resource Center offers assistance with mobility for students with documented disabilities and functional limitations which impact an individual’s ability to successfully navigate the campus.  The college is not mandated to provide these services; however the college has decided that these services can be helpful to facilitate student success.  Not all colleges provide these services, nor are they required to do so.

The College provides two types of service; individual mobility carts and larger, staff-driven mobility golf carts.  The individual carts are checked out to an individual to be used while attending classes and returned by a pre-determined time.

The golf carts are used primarily for pick-ups at the Palomar College NCTD Transit Center and delivery to a destination in the interior of the San Marcos Campus or the Disability Resource Center Building, at a specified time.

Eligibility is determined by a Counselor or the DRC Director after a review of the situation and documentation of limitations.

To obtain this service:

• All passengers must wear seat-belts.
• Call ahead of time to cancel.  The DRC office is always open by 7:30 a.m.   Leave a phone message at 760/744-1150, extension 2375 or via email dsps@palomar.edu
• Persons without disabilities are not allowed to ride along (friends, family, etc.) unless a designated attendant to the person with the disability.
• Submit schedule at least five (5) working days before the beginning of the semester (spring, summer, fall) or before your need.
• These golf-carts are not taxies.  They are a scheduled service.  Extra runs can be made by pre-arrangement or when staff resources and time schedules permit.
• You will be provided pre-arranged pick-up and drop-off times; allow a ten minute window of time for DRC’s arrival time.

Termination of Service Privilege:

• Breach of the Palomar College Student Conduct Code.
• Excessive no-shows or cancellations (3)
• Excessive walk-offs (not waiting the ten-minute window of time)
• Refusal to wear a seat-belt and/or other dangerous riding behavior or poor riding judgment.

Reinstatement of Service Privilege

Meet with Director, DRC.

Golf/Maintenance Cart Authorized Driver’s Audits:

The Facilities Office acting as a representative of the Environmental Health & Safety Office is responsible for maintaining the Golf/Cart Authorized Driver’s system which includes conducting periodic audits of campus department’s to determine status of authorized cart drivers.

Golf/Maintenance Cart Identification Numbering:

All College golf/maintenance carts will have a identification number assigned to their cart (for example: FAC-1).

• Identification lettering/numbering must be:
  • Black
  • Size should be 3-1/2H x 2-1/2L (take measurements of your golf/maintenance cart’s front and back to ensure the correct size).
  • One identification number is to be placed on the front of the golf/maintenance cart
  • One identification number is to be placed on the back of the golf/maintenance cart

Submit a Creative Services Work Order to Print Services (this is a chargeable service). A Comet Copy code or account string and an authorization signature is required.

Golf/Maintenance Cart Routes:

• Please utilize Comet Circle from the top of campus (near the RS Buildings to the HBET Buildings) or the Fire Lane (near the NS Building to the O Building) to access the bottom portion of the campus (Building A to the Athletic Fields, Transit Center, etc.).
• With the increased congestion in both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, safety and caution are absolutely critical.  When driving golf/maintenance carts on campus, please do not drive along the sidewalk behind the GJ-Building to/from the Natural Science Building.  This is a pedestrian sidewalk not an established access route for carts.  To reach the Natural Science Building, please enter from the Comet Circle side to the driveway access.

Inspection and Maintenance:

All golf/maintenance carts should be maintained as recommended by the manufacturer’s service schedule.  A vehicle inspection should be conducted each day of use.

• Every six months, a golf/maintenance cart should be scheduled for a maintenance check and lube
  • Submit a Facilities Work Request Form with sufficient notice to schedule the service (this is a chargeable service)
• Fluid leaks
• Horn/audible warning device
• Is the steering tight or loose?
• Lights (head, tail, brake) for all night use.  Carts without headlights may not be used after dusk and before dawn).
• Loose parts
• Mirrors
• Property battery maintenance is very important.  Older batteries have been known to explode due to overcharging.
  • Battery acid is highly corrosive! – Always wear protective gear! – Know the location of the closest eyewash station.
  • Do not touch HOT components.
  • When exiting, leave switch in neutral position.
  • Check for corrosion, arcing terminals, low battery water and cracks or leaks.
• Report faulty brakes to your supervisor immediately.
• Rust damage
• Signals
• Tire pressure
  • Check the tires air pressure on a weekly basisWarning lights on front and rear of vehicle OR top mounted strobe light
• Water levels
  • It is important that you check the electrolyte water levels in each cell of the batteries because the leaded plates in the battery must be submerged in order for it to work properly.
  • Check the water levels weekly and refill them as needed using distilled water.
  • The owner’s manual will indicate how full the cells should be for your golf/maintenance cart model.
  • Take the appropriate safety precautions when doing this by wearing gloves and goggles.
• Wipers

Report any items not in proper working order to your supervisor and take the golf/maintenance cart vehicle out-of-service until repairs are made.  Keep records of all maintenance and repairs.

Loss of Driving Privileges:

The following offenses will result in suspension, termination or none acquisition of Palomar College driving privileges as well as appropriate disciplinary action.

• Allowing any person not affiliated with the College (other than Approved Contractors).
• Allowing dependents of authorized operators to operate a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle
• Driving which results in the intentional destruction of property.
• Failure to obey federal, state or local traffic laws and regulations
• Failure to obey Palomar College Environmental Health & Safety Campus Cart Safety policy.
• Failure to promptly report an accident involving a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle to your supervisor and Risk Management.
• Golf/Maintenance carts may not be driven over curbs, over barricades, on non-paved surfaces, or onto construction sites.
• Operating a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle outside the scope of the destination and school related activity.
• Operating a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Operating a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle with passenger total exceeding the vehicle manufacturer’s installed seating area.
• Operating a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle in a reckless or unsafe manner.

o   Operating or parking a College owned, rented, or leased vehicle upon surfaces not designed or intended for vehicle travel may be considered reckless or unsafe.  These surfaces include but are not limited to restricted access areas, sidewalks, grass and athletic fields/venues.

• Operating a motor vehicle without the immediate possession of a valid driver’s license.

Recharging Electric Golf/Maintenance Carts:

Electric vehicles will be recharged at locations designated for such use.  Use of extension cords from inside buildings to vehicles is prohibited.

Refueling Internal Combustion Golf/Maintenance Carts:

Fueling will be done at a designed location (Chevron – 1290 West Mission Road/Cross-street: Los Posas Road, San Marcos).  If a vehicle is refueled from a gas can, the vehicle must be grounded.

Road Rules for Golf/Maintenance Cart Operation:

• Do not travel on campus lawns.
• Drive slowly around turns and down hills.
  • When approaching a corner (especially a blind corner with an obstructed view), slow the vehicle to a walking pace and/or stop.  Proceed only when it is safe and clear to do so.
  • When approaching a corner (especially a blind corner with an obstructed view), slow the vehicle to a walking pace and/or stop.  Proceed only when it is safe and clear to do so.
  • Be conscious of cutting corners on paved walkways.  All tires should remain on paved surfaces when making the turn.
  • When traveling down an incline, remove foot from accelerator, cover the brake and maintain the approved speed.
• Employees shall not operate golf/maintenance carts owned by other departments unless approval has been granted by the supervisor of the department/unit to which the vehicle is owned.
• Golf/maintenance approved cart drivers are to pay particular attention to the needs of disabled persons, as limitation in vision, hearing or mobility may impair their ability to see, hear or move out of the way of the carts.
• Golf/Maintenance carts should never travel on a city street (including the breakdown lanes).
• Golf/Maintenance carts shall not be driven through covered walkways (breezeway) except under the following circumstances:
  • Emergencies, medical, police or safety
• Keep hands, legs, feet and arms inside the confines of the golf/maintenance cart.  When physically able, all occupants should be holding on with, at a minimum, one hand.
• Never allow objects to extend outside the golf/maintenance cart
• Never carry unsecured objects.
• Never leave the key in the cart unattended
• Never leave your tools unsecured.
• Never loan out your golf/maintenance cart.
• Never tow other vehicles with your cart.
• Only an Palomar College golf/maintenance approved cart driver is permitted to operate the vehicle.
• Operators of golf/maintenance carts which are not equipped with turn indicators shall use appropriate hand signals.
• Operators are prohibited from driving carts inside, under, or through the confines of college buildings.
  • Avoid the main sidewalks between the hours of 7:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.
  • Use fire lanes as an alternate route.
• Passengers are limited to those that fit within the manufacturer’s installed seating area.  Tilt beds, flat beds and vehicles in which seats have been removed are not intended for passenger use.
• Pedestrians always have the right-of-way.  The golf/maintenance cart is a guest on all sidewalks.
• The speed limit for carts shall be no faster than pedestrian traffic.
• When operating vehicle at night, vehicle must be equipped with a light source which is illuminated whenever vehicle is occupied or in motion.  If a single light source is used, it must be mounted and visible from 360 degrees.

Safe Operating Procedures:

• Never store flammables on your golf/maintenance cart.
  • Always transport them in proper containers.
• Never drive an unsafe cart.
• Occupancy shall not exceed the passenger limit and load capacity designated by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Under no circumstances is anyone to ride standing in or on the back of a golf cart-type vehicle.
• The use of earphones, earplugs, headsets, cellular phones (including texting), and portable radios are prohibited while driving.

Unsafe Driving:

Please report any unsafe cart driving to Supervisor, Environmental Health & Safety Office at extension 3677 or via email djohnson1@palomar.edu.

• Provide a description of the driver
• Provide a description of the golf/maintenance cart
• Provide the identification number