North Myrtle Beach is taking a hard look at its golf cart hours after residents raised the issue during public comment at a recent City Council meeting. Under current rules, golf carts are restricted to operating between sunrise and sunset. Some residents are pushing for extended hours, while others argue that putting traditional carts on already-busy roads after dark creates real safety risks.
The distinction between golf carts and low-speed vehicles sits at the center of the debate. LSVs are built to a higher standard — equipped with turn signals, seat belts, and other safety features — and are already permitted to operate at night. Traditional golf carts typically lack that equipment and top out around 17 mph, compared to roughly 25 mph for LSVs, a speed gap that becomes meaningful when mixing with regular vehicle traffic.
Longtime resident William Graham said visibility is his primary concern, pointing out that carts without lights are difficult for drivers of cars and trucks to spot in time to avoid a collision. Rick McCabe, an employee at A-Jax Golf Cart Rentals, drew a line between quiet back roads, where he sees less risk, and major routes like the boulevard, where he called nighttime cart traffic a serious problem. Frequent visitor Tylik Gause went further, saying traditional golf carts simply aren't fast enough to share most roads with regular vehicles after dark.
North Myrtle Beach isn't navigating this alone. Across South Carolina, municipalities gained more flexibility to set their own golf cart rules following recent state law changes, and communities are landing in different places — some considering later hours for carts with proper lighting, others staying cautious. No decision has been made in North Myrtle Beach; officials say they are still in the review phase as the public conversation continues.
This report was originally published by Golf Car News.
