Karting is an activity that can be enjoyed by just about anyone. Young, old, male, female; everyone can have fun out on the race track. However, no matter who is in the driver’s seat, they should have an understanding of the potential risks and what they should do to ensure their own safety and the safety of other drivers. Over 10,000 injuries occur in people 15 and under each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

You and your customers should comply to the following safety standards to prevent accident and injury.

Wear the Right Clothing and Equipment

Those who are newer to karting likely come to your facility thinking that they can wear whatever they want. However, karts are open and leave drivers vulnerable to the outside elements, so proper clothing is essential. First and foremost, every driver must wear a helmet! Moving at a high speed in an unprotected vehicle leaves them vulnerable, and a helmet offers protection in the event of impact or if debris flies up from the track. Comfortable, fitted clothing allows everyone to maneuver the track without discomfort and distraction. Clothes that are loose should be tucked in as much as possible so they don’t get caught in any moving part and result in an injury. The same goes for long hair; it should be tied back and tucked behind the ears and in the helmet so drivers have an unobstructed view of the track. If you are able to provide racing suits to all drivers, even better. Finally, it’s vital that all drivers have shoes that cover their entire feet, as loose, open-toed shoes can get caught or fall off, affecting the guest’s ability to drive.

 Practice Good Driving Habits

A kart is different than a regular car, but many of the same driving rules still apply. To start, every driver should wear a seatbelt at all times. Accidents can and do happen, and in the event that a kart veers off course or crashes, seat belts secure people inside the karts, preventing anyone from being expelled from the vehicle. Keep to one rider per vehicle and never let a rider sit on another’s lap while racing. Another thing to be mindful of is drivers’ speeds. It’s tempting, especially for younger karters, to put the pedal to the metal and go as fast as the kart will allow, but the faster the kart goes, the more difficult it is to control, putting everyone on the track in danger of crashing or losing control. If you see a guest driving erratically, it is your duty to get them in line or dismiss them from the track.

Treat Karts with Respect

It’s never fun to discuss the dangers that could happen on the race track with your visitors, but it is important for everyone who plans to drive to fully understand the risks and what is expected of them to decrease the likelihood of accidents and injuries while racing. Before a group gets suited up and into the karts, run through the list of safety rules, as well as what will happen if those rules are not followed, and have everyone sign a waiver stating they understand the instructions you provide.

Always Have Parental Supervision for Children

Young riders are more likely to experience an accident or get injured while karting. Keep a watchful eye on children while racing to monitor speed and control of all drivers. If you are having trouble keeping young drivers in line, stop the whole race if need be to demonstrate the severity and the consequences of driving unsafely.

Don’t Allow Drivers Who...

• Are pregnant
• Have a heart condition
• Have back or neck problems
• Have epilepsy or seizures
• Are under the influence of a substance

Karting can and should be a fun form of entertainment for all. As long as you implement and enforce the rules laid out above, your customers will have a safe and enjoyable karting experience and will keep coming back!

Clubspeed’s karting software puts everything you need to run your racing facility in one place, allowing you to offer and safety regulations and waivers to your guests and store customer information via mobile device.