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Non-licensed Vehicle Training

Purpose

To establish standards for the safe use and operations of Golf Carts and other Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicles on Louisiana Tech University (LTU) premises. The content of this program has been developed by the Louisiana Tech University Office of Environmental Health and Safety and the Louisiana Tech University Police Department and approved by the Louisiana Tech University Safety Committee.

Background Information

Louisiana Tech  provides golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles to employees and authorized students to fulfill job related duties, such as the transport of equipment and people, patrol the campus grounds, deliveries, and campus maintenance. This program establishes consistent standards regarding:

  • Vehicle Operating Standards
  • Department & Driver Responsibilities
  • Operator Requirements & Standards
  • Golf Cart/Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicle Condition and Standard Safety Features
  • Accident Reporting Procedures

Compliance with these standards are the sole responsibility of the operator and their immediate supervisor.
 
Golf Carts and Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicles owned by LTU may only be used for official department/LTU business by LTU employees, student employees, and LTU approved personnel associated with a university department. These vehicles may not be used for personal business such as unauthorized home-to-office travel. Knowledge of, and compliance with, applicable state laws, rules, regulations and policies are the responsibility of the driver and their immediate supervisor and noncompliance may result in suspension of user privileges and/or other disciplinary actions.

Gator training materials

Procedures

Vehicle Operating Training:  Employees assigned to operate a Golf Cart must be trained and certified by the LTU Police Department. Employees assigned to operate any other type of non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle, must be trained and certified by that employee’s supervisor.

The Step-By-Step Procedures for Certification of these drivers on the Louisiana Tech University campus are as follows:

Step 1 – Any employee who is assigned to operate these types of vehicles must complete the Louisiana Tech University Driver Safety Program offered through the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). (Recertification is required every 3 years for non-student employees and every year for student employees).

Step 2- Any employee who is assigned to operate these types of vehicles must review and follow the “Golf Carts and Other Non-Registered/Non-Licensed Motor Vehicles (ex: John Deere Gator) Safety” section of University Policy 4210.

Step 3 – Employees, including student employees, who operate golf carts, must be formally trained and certified by the Louisiana Tech University Police Department before they can operate these vehicles. Employees, including student employees, that operate other types of non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles, shall be trained and certified by the Supervisor of the areas in which the vehicle is to be used before they can operate these vehicles. Each operator along with their supervisor must complete a “Louisiana Tech University Non-Licensed Vehicle Operator Training Acknowledgement Form” and submit the completed form to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for each of their employees that operate these types of vehicles.  This Form can be downloaded from the “Forms” section of the EHS web page. Names of Certified operators will be posted in the Driver Safety section of the EHS web page. (Recertification is required every 3 years for non-student employees and every year for student employees).

Step 4 – The University Police shall use a golf cart training program for golf cart operator training. Supervisors who train operators of other types of non-registered/non-licensed vehicles should use the training material supplied by the manufacturer of the vehicle. A training module to use in conjunction of the Operator’s Manual for John Deere Gators is located in the “Safety Training Resources” section of the EHS web page

“Rules of the Road”

Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle operation is governed under Louisiana Revised Statutes, and operators are subject to the rules of the road, including stopping, turning and safe operation. Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle operators observed in violation of these rules can be cited by any police department. Louisiana Tech University Police are responsible for enforcing these statues on campus.

Golf Cart and non-register/non-licensed motor vehicles are to be operated at speeds no greater than 15 mph on campus or as safety concerns demand. Operators should always consider the terrain, weather conditions, and existing pedestrian and vehicular traffic, which may affect the ability to operate these types of vehicles, safely.

Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle operators will stop at all “blind intersections” and then, if clear, proceed with caution.

Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will be operated only within the confines of the LTU property.

Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles are to be driven on improved surface unless it is the only available way to gain access to the specific area where work is being performed, or in the state of emergency need. If the vehicle must be on a
landscaped area in order to allow a pedestrian(s) the proper right-of-way; it should be
brought to a full stop, then immediately returned to the designated driving surface as soon as the area is clear. The ONLY EXCEPTION is if Louisiana Tech Police are in pursuit or EH&S to respond to an immediate emergency.

Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will be operated in such a manner that do not impede or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow on sidewalks, ramps or roadways

Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will be operated with the utmost PRIMARY courtesy, care, and consideration for the safety of students and pedestrians.

STUDENTS AND PEDESTRIANS, IN PLAIN VIEW, MUST ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY AND SHOULD NEVER BE INTERRUPTED IN THEIR TRAVEL UNLESS IN THE PATH LEADING TO EMERGENCIES!!!!

Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will not be parked:

  • In Floral landscaped areas
  • In Handicap Parking
  • In Reserved Parking
  • Within 20 feet of the main entrance/exit of any building in any manner that would impede the normal flow of pedestrian traffic
  • On sidewalks or ramps that would impede or block student traffic and handicap accessibility

Supervisor Responsibilities-Supervisors are responsible for the enforcement of this policy.

As such, these Supervisors will:

  1. Assure that each employee in their department, who operates a Golf Cart and/or non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle, is properly trained on and follow this policy.
  2. Require each operator to complete the Louisiana Tech University Driver Safety program.
  3. Verify that all employees have completed the Golf Cart or non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle training form prior to the usage of this type of vehicle.
  4. Obtain a signed copy of the Non-licensed Vehicle Operator Training Form from each employee in their department who operates these types of vehicles, attesting to the employee’s knowledge and understanding of, and agreement to abide by, the Golf Cart/Utility Vehicle policy. This signed Acknowledgement must be completed and placed in the employees personnel file prior to the employee driving a Golf Cart/Utility Vehicle.
  5. Implement procedures for the control of Golf Cart and Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicles registered to such department. Procedures may (without being mandatory) include the use of a “sign-out log” for keys to the golf cart or utility vehicle.

Employee/Operator Requirements & Standards

  1. No one under the age of eighteen (18) will operate a Golf Cart and/or non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle owned by LTU.
  2. Golf Cart and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle operators are responsible for the security of ignition keys during the time these vehicles is assigned to them. Any time the vehicle is unattended, the ignition will be turned off, and the key will be removed from the ignition and kept in the possession of the authorized operator.
  3. Operating these vehicles require the full attention of the driver. Cell phones and/or radios should not be used while driving Golf Carts and Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicles. Vehicle operators are not permitted to drive while wearing devices that impeded hearing, e.g., stereo headsets, earplugs, etc.
  4. All passengers must be in seats designed for such use. No passengers are allowed to be transported in the truck beds or on the sides of these types of vehicles with the exception of the transport of an injured person secured on a backboard.  ONLY THE ALLOTED NUMBER OF PASSENGERS SHOULD OCCUPY A CART OR
    NON-REGISTERED/NON-LICENSED MOTOR VEHICLE AT ANY TIME AND AT NO TIME SHOULD THE RECOMMENDED LOAD CAPACITY FOR THE VEHICLE BE EXCEEDED. LOAD CAPACITY IS THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF ALL RIDERS PLUS THE WEIGHT OF ANY ITEMS CARRIED IN THE VEHICLE. NO PERSON IS TO STAND OR RIDE, UNSECURELY, IN OR ON A GOLF CART OR NON-REGISTERED/NON-LICENSED MOTOR VEHICLE.
  5. Employees will not operate Golf Cart/Utility Vehicles registered to other departments unless the supervisor of the department to which the Golf Cart/Utility Vehicles is registered has granted prior approval.

Golf Cart and Non-Registered/Non-Licensed Motor Vehicle Condition and Standard Safety Features

The physical condition of these vehicles should appear to be good condition (dents, dings, cracked fenders, etc.)

Vehicles without headlights and/or taillights are to be used ONLY during day time operations.

Headlights, taillights and electric turn signals are required for night time operation; hand signals suffice for day time operation.

Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will be equipped with working horn or bell and “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign and strobe light(Amber) at the highest point to be observed from all directions at all times when in motion.

Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles should be identified with the LTU logo.

Reflective tape will be placed on the front and rear bumpers for easier visibility at night.

Golf Carts and non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicles will not be modified in any manner that affects the recommended mode of operation, speed or safety of the Golf Cart or Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicle.

When the Golf Cart or non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle is not in use, verify that the parking brake is engaged.

Golf Cart and Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicle Maintenance Responsibility

Each Golf Cart and Non-register/Non-licensed motor vehicle operator is responsible for providing timely notification of safety and maintenance concerns to the supervisor of the department to which the vehicle is registered.  Supervisors will be responsible for the timely repair of such malfunctions. The vehicle cannot be operated until said repairs have taken place. The department of ownership is responsible for the cost of maintenance and repairing any damage to the vehicle caused by regular use or an unpreventable accident.

Accident Reporting Process

All accidents involving a Golf Cart or non-registered/non-licensed motor vehicle will be reported immediately to the EH&S department and the LTU Police Department regardless of whether property damage or personal injury occurred.

The operator must also obtain and fill out a  DA-2041- “Accident Report Form”, obtained from their supervisor as soon as possible following the accident.  The supervisor shall fill out the “Supervisor’s portion” of the form and then transmit the form to EHS. EHS must transmit the first page of the DA 2041 to the Office of Risk Management within 48 hours of the accident, so this Office must receive the completed form from the supervisor in a timely fashion. The Department of Environmental Health & Safety and LTU Police Department will investigate the incident.

Upon completion of the investigation, depending on the severity, the driver may lose all privileges to operate Golf Carts or Non-registered/Non-licensed motor vehicles.

If the driver or another employee who is a passenger in the vehicle is injured and require medical treatment, the supervisor must also contact the Louisiana Tech University Human Resources Office to report a Worker’s Comp Claim.  Use Employers First Report of Injury or Illness (LWC-WC IA-1)