Driving at night

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-16-2012, 10:00 AM
FrankD FrankD is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 60
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Driving at night

I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
  #2  
Old 12-16-2012, 10:04 AM
Dr Winston O Boogie jr's Avatar
Dr Winston O Boogie jr Dr Winston O Boogie jr is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 7,939
Thanks: 1
Thanked 2,157 Times in 772 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankD View Post
I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
Do you have your lights on?

Is your windshield clean and scratch free?

The light colored curbs are there to help you guide your cart.
__________________
The Beatlemaniacs of The Villages meet every Friday 10:00am at the O'Dell Recreation Center.

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, April 22, 1800.
  #3  
Old 12-16-2012, 10:51 AM
bluedog103's Avatar
bluedog103 bluedog103 is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 1,435
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankD View Post
I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
I sometimes find it difficult too. I adjusted my headlights, which helped quite a bit, but it still is difficult at times. Yes, my windshield is clean and in excellent condition.
__________________
New York State, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Italy.
  #4  
Old 12-16-2012, 10:57 AM
aln's Avatar
aln aln is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 956
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

I tend to avoid the darker paths and when I must use them I SLOW DOWN!
__________________
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, cigar in one hand, scotch in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
  #5  
Old 12-16-2012, 12:42 PM
FrankD FrankD is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 60
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Has anyone ever used those amber colored glasses that are supposed to be for night driving?
  #6  
Old 12-16-2012, 12:52 PM
cathyw cathyw is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brooklyn, NY Queens, NY Village of Summerhill, Village of Santiago
Posts: 491
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I've used them. They really help with the headlights coming towards you by eliminating the glare. I didn't find them helpful with the darkness though. Worth a try, IMHO.
  #7  
Old 12-16-2012, 01:11 PM
Figmo Bohica's Avatar
Figmo Bohica Figmo Bohica is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Village of Buttonwood, State of Confusion
Posts: 1,338
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Its called night blindness and it is just something that we have to deal with as we get older. Welcome to the club.
__________________
Florida CWL Instructor
NRA Certified Law Enforcement Handgun/Shotgun Instructor
NRA Certified Civilian Handgun/Shotgun Instructor
NRA Chief Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Home Protection Instructor
Retired Army Military Police Investigator - 20 years, 4 months, 13 days
Retired Deputy Sheriff/Corrections Officer
IDPA Safety Officer Instructor
All skill is in vain when an Angel weewees in the flintlock of your musket.
  #8  
Old 12-16-2012, 01:30 PM
Madelaine Amee's Avatar
Madelaine Amee Madelaine Amee is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: The Villages North
Posts: 4,274
Thanks: 1,216
Thanked 1,040 Times in 374 Posts
Default Oh please don't frighten me like that ............

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankD View Post
I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
................ when I am driving home in the dark in my CAR, I often see golf carts wandering over the white line into the road, it is very frightening to the driver of the car and I imagine terrifying to the golf cart driver. I slow right down at night when passing carts, but so many cars just keep on going.

Also, please watch out for golf cart drivers who don't signal a left, but just come straight out onto the road to turn left.
__________________
A people free to choose will always choose peace.

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about!

Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak
  #9  
Old 12-16-2012, 02:00 PM
blueash's Avatar
blueash blueash is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,386
Thanks: 253
Thanked 3,481 Times in 936 Posts
Default simple solution, will cost a few $$

I am young, don't have night vision problems and you are correct. Your car drives on relatively well lit roads with street lights and raised light colored curbs and lots of cat's eyes or Botts dots in the road (those reflectors enbedded in the roadbed). The roads are relatively straight and don't have islands in the middle of the roadway that require that you move right to stay in the driving lane (or at least not often) None of these comments are applicable to the cart paths. The paths have no lighting, are designed to be wavy and have lane diverting islands and no reflectors or curbing (which might be worse as people would hit the curb and flip rather than go into the grass). I have seen the occasional cat's eye on curves. It would be helpful if there were cats eyes everywhere on the paths. I don't know the $$ but it shouldn't be prohibitive. No matter how clear your windshield, your pupils which are wide open driving in the dark will constrict when an oncoming cart shines its lights at you thus reducing significantly your ability to see. Alternatively a bright reflective white stripe could be painted on the right edge of the entire path giving your eye a guiding line in the dark. Save a life, prevent an injury
  #10  
Old 12-16-2012, 03:36 PM
janmcn janmcn is offline
Sage
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,298
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Post

When I first moved here, golf carts were not allowed to be driven after dark. Everybody would be scooting home about six o'clock to get home before dark. That was changed about ten years ago. Perhaps we'll have to go back to the old rules.
  #11  
Old 12-16-2012, 03:58 PM
CatskillBill's Avatar
CatskillBill CatskillBill is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 382
Thanks: 0
Thanked 38 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankD View Post
I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
Lots of people get the tinted windshield when they first buy a cart. They really don't help that much when it's sunny, but they do make it vary hard to see at night. Try driving one that has the clear windshield that isn't scratcged up. You may want to change our's out if it's smoked colored and has swirls and scratch marks.

There were some threads last month about caring for the plexiglass windshields that are helpfull.

I only use Meguare's Cleaner & Wax for my cart. I only use damp sponge to apply it, and a micro fiber cloth for buffing. It keeps it new.
  #12  
Old 12-16-2012, 04:03 PM
bluedog103's Avatar
bluedog103 bluedog103 is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 1,435
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica View Post
Its called night blindness and it is just something that we have to deal with as we get older. Welcome to the club.
Night blindness probably has something to do with it but I think the crappy headlights on golf carts has more to do with it. I don't have a problem driving a car at night, even on dark mountain roads but the cart paths are sometimes difficult.
__________________
New York State, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Italy.
  #13  
Old 12-16-2012, 04:37 PM
wendyquat's Avatar
wendyquat wendyquat is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,580
Thanks: 2
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default

Yes I agree it's an age thing! On a positive note, in the summer and with daylight savings time, you can usually be home safe before the sidewalks roll up for the night!
  #14  
Old 12-16-2012, 04:44 PM
NotGolfer NotGolfer is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Villages
Posts: 3,970
Thanks: 2,794
Thanked 1,012 Times in 421 Posts
Default

If you have cataracts this can be a factor for driving at night. I'm with the OP in that I HATE to drive at night these days. Never mind the golf cart paths. Even on the streets, meeting cars along with the carts can be "blinding". Our golf-cart lights have been adjusted so as not to shine directly into the eyes of the folks we meet along the way---wishing everyone would do the same.

There are reflectors along the way, which are appreciated as otherwise I'm sure it would be alot worse in those dark areas.
  #15  
Old 12-17-2012, 03:51 PM
JoeC1947 JoeC1947 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The Villages of course!
Posts: 866
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankD View Post
I am having trouble driving my golf cart in the evening on the cart paths. They are very dark in some areas and if another cart is coming the other way, I can't see the path at all. When someone is coming, I have to guide my cart by keeping my eye on the curb. Is this a problem with others?
One too many at the town square?? Sometimes I can't even find my cart! Just kidding..........
Closed Thread


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:12 PM.