About 1,000 Americans a month are being injured in golf cart accidents, with many mishaps occurring off the links as the tiny, low-cost vehicles are increasingly used for general transportation, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham study released Tuesday.

The study claims to be the first to estimate the number of golf cart injuries in the United States. It found that golf carts are routinely involved in collisions and rollovers as well as other accidents in which people fall or are flung from the vehicle, said Gerald McGwin, associate director for research at the Center for Injury Sciences at UAB.

The study – published in the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care – was conducted after doctors at UAB treated a number of serious injuries suffered in golf cart accidents, McGwin said.

The researchers analyzed a national database of emergency room records from 2002 through 2005.

They conservatively estimated there were about 48,000 golf cart accidents nationwide during that four-year period, or about 1,000 a month. Roughly half the accidents occurred on golf courses, the other half at homes, on streets and on other public property.

“A lot of people perceive golf carts as little more than toys, but our findings suggest they can be quite dangerous, especially when used on public roads,” McGwin said.

Fractures and head trauma were the most common injuries found in the study. The highest injury rates were found in 10- to 19-year-old boys and men older than 80.

The study noted that golf carts are designed specifically for use off public roads, with speeds not to exceed 15 mph, although they can be easily modified to travel faster. They lack many of the safety features required for vehicles traveling public streets, such as windshields, signal lights and mirrors.

“There is little federal regulation, and most states do not require operators to be of a certain age, use any sort of safety equipment or obtain an operator’s license,” McGwin said.

A hodgepodge of state and local regulations govern golf carts. For example, it is illegal to operate an unlicensed vehicle, including a golf cart, on public streets in Alabama. In Florida, golf carts can be used on streets, but only if they have been modified to run at a top speed of 20 to 25 mph. Florida counties and cities can still ban them, too.

Meanwhile, golf carts are increasingly being used for short trips in affluent subdivisions and senior citizen communities because they are relatively inexpensive, quiet and usually have low emissions.

“Golf carts are becoming a popular way to get around in some neighborhoods, particularly for adolescents and teenagers who cannot yet drive a car,” McGwin said.

McGwin said the researchers didn’t want to appear alarmist, and the problem should be kept in perspective. For instance, the rate of accidents for all-terrain vehicles is 10 times higher than that for golf carts, the study noted. Also, there are more than 6 million auto-accident injuries a year, including more than 40,000 deaths.

Shawn Reider, head golf professional at Alpine Bay Golf Club near Logan Martin Lake, said he was aware of a couple of accidents with golf carts over the years on the course. “Most of it is alcohol-related,” he said.

A golf cart has a short wheel base and can flip over if turned too sharply, he said.

“If you’re careful, you won’t have any problems,” Reider said. “Who’s behind the wheel has a lot to do with it.”

The researchers made some safety recommendations, especially for people who use golf carts on public roadways:

• Parents should carefully monitor children operating golf carts.

• Seat belts should become mandatory in golf carts.

• Drivers and passengers should wear helmets while in golf carts operating on public roads.