For the slow ones, my 22 month old daughter was the sole occupant. She drove the cart into the water herself, able to hold on and push the pedal but unable to steer or even know what she was doing otherwise. Lots of carts have the safety issue where if you simply push the gas pedal it drives. There is no seat switch or putting it in gear. You can step out with the cart still ready to drive if the pedal is pressed. In fact this is considered normal operation. This includes all golf carts (gas and electric) and most go carts and other simple buggies with an automatic clutch. In a club car, pressing the gas pedal even releases the parking brake for you. That last point contributed directly to my daughter's death. All it takes is a moment of inattention from the adult driver and the kid is dead. As soon as the cart moves you're helpless to hold on or catch it. It's literally as dangerous as handing a loaded pistol to a kid with the safety off. People don't realize this about golf carts and other buggies but it's true. If the kid is ever closer to the cart than you are they're dead. So no you can't leave a child sitting on the seat while you step out for a second to check the mailbox or pick up a piece of trash. My wife and I knew this, as did our neighbor who had his son total a golf cart when he was 2 years old too. Unfortunately not all adults know it. The standard operation and design of these carts is ridiculous from a child safety standpoint too. Everyone knows guns are dangerous. These carts are the same thing, except 99% of people don't know it.