[VApeople]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'm also not so sure I embrace the concept of driving on the same stretch of road as a driver who gets "very nervous".

You don't have to "embrace the concept". Like all facts of life, you simply have to accept it.

If people like me bother you, take Uber.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I basically agree with the Sheriff BUT too many cars speed up to get in front of the cart to turn right, forcing the cart to slow down and frequently come to a complete stop. The reality is the cart going straight has the right of way. if there's enough time to move into the multi-modal lane to turn without slowing the cart down, then I see no problem with moving into that lane. However, if the car would be forcing the cart to yield, then the car needs to wait in its lane and turn after the cart has crossed the street, not block the golf cart's path.

Wouldn't forcing the cart to slow down be the purpose of moving into the diamond lane? The tie is broken. Everyone stays safe. Safety before convenience, right? Like so many have said, we are retired - what's the hurry?

Also, I am trying to imagine a situation that causes a golf car to jump a curb to avoid running into the back of a car? Failed brakes? Not paying attention to the fact that you are approaching the back of a car?

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by photo1902

...I'm of the belief that cars should not move over or block a diamond lane when making a right turn.

When's the last time you made a right turn without moving over the diamond lane?

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

...You should not be making that right turn (yet) if a cart, a bicycle, or a donkey is close enough that they can hit you if they don't slow down...The responsibility is yours to make sure the way is clear...So whether you fully block the cart lane, partially block it, or turn from the car lane, there should be no one close enough for it to make a difference...

There ya go.

[Wait...I just expressed agreement with GE. ]

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I have done extensive searching and have concluded that Florida Statutes do not address this issue. I thought I would see what the answer is for bike lanes, assuming that it might correlate to golf cart lanes.

The Florida Bicycle Association's interpretation of the statute seems to support the automobile moving into the bike lane.

[VApeople]

All of your comments have helped us a great deal. During our visit in November, we drove south on Morse Road and noticed golf carts driving in their own lane. We turned right on Palo Alto so we could see what one of the villages looked like, but I can't recall my wife (who was driving) looking out for carts coming up along our right side. Other than that, we only turned at the roundabouts.

After we joined this DG, we read about the accident at the intersection of Morse and San Marino and realized that sharing the road with golf carts presents a whole new set of problems that we had never encountered. It has also discouraged us from ever buying a house that feeds into Morse Road north of 466. If we ever get a golf cart (which is doubtful), we would not want to drive it along that stretch of road.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by VApeople

...It has also discouraged us from ever buying a house that feeds into Morse Road north of 466. If we ever get a golf cart (which is doubtful), we would not want to drive it along that stretch of road.

You should of course do only what you feel comfortable doing. But I would like to assure you that, with driver diligence, driving a golf cart and driving a car among the golf carts in TV is not as daunting as many would have you believe. After a little learning period, it will be just as routine as driving a car anywhere else.

The stretch of Morse north of 466 should not be taken lightly, but it is also very safe to drive as long as you exercise that always-present requirement...driver diligence.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

You should of course do only what you feel comfortable doing. But I would like to assure you that, with driver diligence, driving a golf cart and driving a car among the golf carts in TV is not as daunting as many would have you believe. After a little learning period, it will be just as routine as driving a car anywhere else.

The stretch of Morse north of 466 should not be taken lightly, but it is also very safe to drive as long as you exercise that always-present requirement...driver diligence.

Agreed. If you consider the number of traffic movements along that road, the number of people involved in accidents is minuscule.

Like anywhere, drive defensively, be aware of what other drivers are doing or planning to do and don't be in too much of a rush.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

When's the last time you made a right turn without moving over the diamond lane?



There ya go.

[Wait...I just expressed agreement with GE. ]

Im talking about using the diamond lane as an extended turn lane. Of course you have to cross over it at an intersection (of course the white line and diamond signs stop at that brief point).

[cologal]

Originally Posted by VApeople

On a road with a cart path on the right side, it appears that people driving a car have a hard time turning right when a person driving a cart wants to go straight. This is what some people were told to do.



In short, the person driving the car pulls into the cart lane to block any carts that want to go straight. Then they turn right.

Do you all agree with this?

I was in a cart lane when a car turned right in front of me within maybe 50 feet of my cart. We had no where to go. I tried to get my cart up over the curb onto the grass but we still hit the car, a huge SUV, about amidships. The cart rode along the car until the end and then we went over the curb in front of us. I thought we were going to be ok but then cart tipped over. My passenger's leg ended up under the roof of the cart. He spent months in the hospital and rehab.

The driver of the car got out and screamed at me that I was speeding. She saw the cart but turned in front of us anyway. She was cited for failure to yield which was ungraded to careless driving due to the extent of my passenger's injury. Never once did she express any concern, she hired a lawyer to represent her so while we spent half the day in traffic court she wasn't required to come.

If you turn in front of a cart and cause an accident you will be cited for failure to yield right of way.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by VApeople

You don't have to "embrace the concept". Like all facts of life, you simply have to accept it.

If people like me bother you, take Uber.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean my comment to be overly offensive, at least no more so than your "their problem, not mine" After all, on a shared roadway, their problems ARE your problems.

For context, I wasn't really referring to driving locally on residential roads or within TV. It was more directed at those that ride the left lane of an interstate at 50 when it is posted at 70. It also was referring to another post that someone made regarding a driver who personally believed that 466 should be posted at 35, not 45, and therefore intentionally drove in the left lane at 35 to impose HIS opinion on everyone else. Please drive safely on a road and a lane and a speed that you can handle and get here in one piece.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

When's the last time you made a right turn without moving over the diamond lane?



There ya go.

[Wait...I just expressed agreement with GE. ]

Is today February 30th?????

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by VApeople

All of your comments have helped us a great deal. During our visit in November, we drove south on Morse Road and noticed golf carts driving in their own lane. We turned right on Palo Alto so we could see what one of the villages looked like, but I can't recall my wife (who was driving) looking out for carts coming up along our right side. Other than that, we only turned at the roundabouts.

After we joined this DG, we read about the accident at the intersection of Morse and San Marino and realized that sharing the road with golf carts presents a whole new set of problems that we had never encountered. It has also discouraged us from ever buying a house that feeds into Morse Road north of 466. If we ever get a golf cart (which is doubtful), we would not want to drive it along that stretch of road.

Then you may want to stay clear of Pinellas Pl, Belvedere Blvd, Bailey Trail, St Charles Pl, Bonita Blvd, ...all have lots of traffic at different times and golf carts sharing the road with autos. Golf carts are no more dangerous in TV than motorcycles.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by cologal

I was in a cart lane when a car turned right in front of me within maybe 50 feet of my cart. We had no where to go. I tried to get my cart up over the curb onto the grass but we still hit the car, a huge SUV, about amidships. The cart rode along the car until the end and then we went over the curb in front of us. I thought we were going to be ok but then cart tipped over. My passenger's leg ended up under the roof of the cart. He spent months in the hospital and rehab.

The driver of the car got out and screamed at me that I was speeding. She saw the cart but turned in front of us anyway. She was cited for failure to yield which was ungraded to careless driving due to the extent of my passenger's injury. Never once did she express any concern, she hired a lawyer to represent her so while we spent half the day in traffic court she wasn't required to come.

If you turn in front of a cart and cause an accident you will be cited for failure to yield right of way.

You couldn't stop in 50ft? Average stopping distance with reaction time is 38ft. How fast were you going?

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by outlaw

...Golf carts are no more dangerous in TV than motorcycles.

Just my opinion...but I don't agree.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by cologal

I was in a cart lane when a car turned right in front of me within maybe 50 feet of my cart. We had no where to go. I tried to get my cart up over the curb onto the grass but we still hit the car, a huge SUV, about amidships. The cart rode along the car until the end and then we went over the curb in front of us. I thought we were going to be ok but then cart tipped over. My passenger's leg ended up under the roof of the cart. He spent months in the hospital and rehab.

The driver of the car got out and screamed at me that I was speeding. She saw the cart but turned in front of us anyway. She was cited for failure to yield which was ungraded to careless driving due to the extent of my passenger's injury. Never once did she express any concern, she hired a lawyer to represent her so while we spent half the day in traffic court she wasn't required to come.

If you turn in front of a cart and cause an accident you will be cited for failure to yield right of way.

Well, this could certainly serve as an example of the benfit of moving right to block the cart lane prior to reaching the intersection. There would have been 50 feet between the golf cart and the back of the auto as the auto slowed to make the turn. No tie, no collision. I am convinced.

From the story, it seems that the auto driver believed there was time to complete the turn before the golf cart caught up. Not a case of 'did not see it'. Also, the golf car driver did not seem to be aware that the auto was about to make a turn. Both of these problems go away. So, law enforcment recomendation to move right before slowing to turn makes a lot of sense.