[LianneMigiano]

From the Daily News front page 8/17: The number of golf cart fatalities in Sumter County between 2020 and 2024 was 12! Roughly half of those took place between El Camino Real and CR 466.
Well, look at a map of that area. On the west side of Buena Vista are the Villages of Glenbrook and Polo Ridge with Alhambra to the north and Santa Domingo to the south of El Camino. The Polo fields and a nature preserve flank most of the east side of Buena Vista. I have lived just a bit north of this general area for 15 years and have not noticed any of the accidents occurring along Buena Vista Blvd. From its' intersection with 466, an easterly trip ALL along 466 shows NO villages other than a very small one (Bridgeport at Laurel Valley) and golf course areas on the southern side of 466. The northern side is almost completely used by the Developers' families. The only remaining area occurs northerly from 466 toward El Camino/Paige Place - i.e. MORSE BLVD! So, maybe I can assume that most of those fatalities have occurred among the numerous villages along that thoroughfare. With the poor folks having to compete too close to motor vehicles for that entire stretch of about 2 miles it's no wonder that it might be where many of the fatalities have occurred. Why are so many folks denying the need to better protect golf cart drivers along that stretch and redesign something to travel more safely on???? We rented in that area for two separate visits before our purchase - and driving along Morse Blvd. frightened the devil out of me!

[CarlR33]

Golf carts play a role also. I see so many running without tail lights on (during near dark, dark or in the rain) or retro “cool back in the day” tail lights that you could not see because they simply jump in the cart and never treat it like an automobile. I heard one recent accident in the south was due to no golf cart lighting in a heavy rain and another cart rear ended it. Second one is distracted cart driving, drinking something, cell phone use, reaching for something in the cart, etc. I have seen examples of all of these many times with the carts.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by LianneMigiano

From the Daily News front page 8/17: The number of golf cart fatalities in Sumter County between 2020 and 2024 was 12! Roughly half of those took place between El Camino Real and CR 466.
Well, look at a map of that area. On the west side of Buena Vista are the Villages of Glenbrook and Polo Ridge with Alhambra to the north and Santa Domingo to the south of El Camino. The Polo fields and a nature preserve flank most of the east side of Buena Vista. I have lived just a bit north of this general area for 15 years and have not noticed any of the accidents occurring along Buena Vista Blvd. From its' intersection with 466, an easterly trip ALL along 466 shows NO villages other than a very small one (Bridgeport at Laurel Valley) and golf course areas on the southern side of 466. The northern side is almost completely used by the Developers' families. The only remaining area occurs northerly from 466 toward El Camino/Paige Place - i.e. MORSE BLVD! So, maybe I can assume that most of those fatalities have occurred among the numerous villages along that thoroughfare. With the poor folks having to compete too close to motor vehicles for that entire stretch of about 2 miles it's no wonder that it might be where many of the fatalities have occurred. Why are so many folks denying the need to better protect golf cart drivers along that stretch and redesign something to travel more safely on???? We rented in that area for two separate visits before our purchase - and driving along Morse Blvd. frightened the devil out of me!

I don’t get the Daily Sun so I cannot read the article - perhaps it answers these questions…

- Of the fatalilities along Morse, how many involved another vehicle?
- Of those that involved another vehicle, how many were caused by a golf cart pulling out in front of a car or turning left in front of a car? (I remember two but there could have been more)
- What improvements, short of banning golf carts in a golf-cart community, would have prevented those accidents?

Most of the deaths I remember were due to head injuries. Lack of seatbelts is usually blamed, and they may have helped in some cases, but a belt across my lap is not going to keep my head from hitting the pavement if my cart rolls to the driver’s side. We can’t prevent golf cart drivers from pulling into traffic, we can’t keep them from turning too quickly and rolling the cart, we can’t keep them front entering a tunnel too fast and driving head-on into the wall, but we CAN protect their heads.

If we want to save lives we won’t get far by waiting for the county to change Morse and even that would only prevent maybe 1/3 of the fatalities. If we want to save lives we can strongly promote, and even push the state legislature to require, head protection. We claim foam helmets protect bicyclists and we require DOT-certified helmets for motorcycles, perhaps now is the time to require helmets for golf carts too.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by LianneMigiano

From the Daily News front page 8/17: The number of golf cart fatalities in Sumter County between 2020 and 2024 was 12! Roughly half of those took place between El Camino Real and CR 466.
Well, look at a map of that area. On the west side of Buena Vista are the Villages of Glenbrook and Polo Ridge with Alhambra to the north and Santa Domingo to the south of El Camino. The Polo fields and a nature preserve flank most of the east side of Buena Vista. I have lived just a bit north of this general area for 15 years and have not noticed any of the accidents occurring along Buena Vista Blvd. From its' intersection with 466, an easterly trip ALL along 466 shows NO villages other than a very small one (Bridgeport at Laurel Valley) and golf course areas on the southern side of 466. The northern side is almost completely used by the Developers' families. The only remaining area occurs northerly from 466 toward El Camino/Paige Place - i.e. MORSE BLVD! So, maybe I can assume that most of those fatalities have occurred among the numerous villages along that thoroughfare. With the poor folks having to compete too close to motor vehicles for that entire stretch of about 2 miles it's no wonder that it might be where many of the fatalities have occurred. Why are so many folks denying the need to better protect golf cart drivers along that stretch and redesign something to travel more safely on???? We rented in that area for two separate visits before our purchase - and driving along Morse Blvd. frightened the devil out of me!

12 Fatal accidents. Suggest you get the Homicide Reports for these accidents and then give us facts to see how and why they occurred.

[asianthree]

It’s a short burb, that gives zero indication on causes just the fear factor of Twelve fatalities in 48 months. No dates either.

The only three I remember was medical emergency driver of car hit a golf cart, leaving road, finally coming to a stop by hitting a fence, and a medical emergency driver in a golf cart, lost control, after losing consciousness. So both fatalities, but I wouldn’t classify medical emergency as preventable accident.

The third could be walkers in the road with traffic, first cart just missing them, second cart no time to react. That scenario, has happened more than a couple of times. Although not all were fatal.

Although multiple people have fallen out of golf carts due to a quick turn, no seatbelt resulted in passengers falling out and hitting pavement or curb. Today 2 carts coming out of Eastport crossing the road instead of driving down to the tunnel. Definitely not street legal

[Babbs1957]

I don't believe helmets for motorcycles are "required" in Florida. Although I disagree with the helmet law because a helmet saved my life, I wear one on my Kawasaki, but would not wear one in a golf cart. I only wear a belt when I am a passenger in a golf cart on a main road like Morse north of 466 and I don't like being on Morse.

The actual cart lane on Morse is not wide enough for a cart and the cart is required to put the right tires in the concrete water ditch which makes the cart unstable many times. Of course I don't know how many accidents occur where a car/truck hit the back corner of cart on Morse, but I don't want to the be one of the ones listed in some list.

IMO, age, alcohol, phones, and poorly lit carts are the main reasons for fatalities and serious injuries. All four of these can be the cart or the car/truck involved with the cart.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Don’t forget alcohol.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by LianneMigiano

From the Daily News front page 8/17: The number of golf cart fatalities in Sumter County between 2020 and 2024 was 12! Roughly half of those took place between El Camino Real and CR 466.
Well, look at a map of that area. On the west side of Buena Vista are the Villages of Glenbrook and Polo Ridge with Alhambra to the north and Santa Domingo to the south of El Camino. The Polo fields and a nature preserve flank most of the east side of Buena Vista. I have lived just a bit north of this general area for 15 years and have not noticed any of the accidents occurring along Buena Vista Blvd. From its' intersection with 466, an easterly trip ALL along 466 shows NO villages other than a very small one (Bridgeport at Laurel Valley) and golf course areas on the southern side of 466. The northern side is almost completely used by the Developers' families. The only remaining area occurs northerly from 466 toward El Camino/Paige Place - i.e. MORSE BLVD! So, maybe I can assume that most of those fatalities have occurred among the numerous villages along that thoroughfare. With the poor folks having to compete too close to motor vehicles for that entire stretch of about 2 miles it's no wonder that it might be where many of the fatalities have occurred. Why are so many folks denying the need to better protect golf cart drivers along that stretch and redesign something to travel more safely on???? We rented in that area for two separate visits before our purchase - and driving along Morse Blvd. frightened the devil out of me!

The section of road on Morse north of 466 is the responsibility of Sumter County. They have made it very clear that they have zero interest in the financial commitment necessary to improve the safety on that particular stretch of road. Kimley-Horn, the developers consulting firm on these type of matters, coincidentally supports that position?

[Retiredsteve]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don’t get the Daily Sun so I cannot read the article - perhaps it answers these questions…

- Of the fatalilities along Morse, how many involved another vehicle?
- Of those that involved another vehicle, how many were caused by a golf cart pulling out in front of a car or turning left in front of a car? (I remember two but there could have been more)
- What improvements, short of banning golf carts in a golf-cart community, would have prevented those accidents?

Most of the deaths I remember were due to head injuries. Lack of seatbelts is usually blamed, and they may have helped in some cases, but a belt across my lap is not going to keep my head from hitting the pavement if my cart rolls to the driver’s side. We can’t prevent golf cart drivers from pulling into traffic, we can’t keep them from turning too quickly and rolling the cart, we can’t keep them front entering a tunnel too fast and driving head-on into the wall, but we CAN protect their heads.

If we want to save lives we won’t get far by waiting for the county to change Morse and even that would only prevent maybe 1/3 of the fatalities. If we want to save lives we can strongly promote, and even push the state legislature to require, head protection. We claim foam helmets protect bicyclists and we require DOT-certified helmets for motorcycles, perhaps now is the time to require helmets for golf carts too.

. Helmets on motorcycles are optional in Florida

[thevillages2013]

[QUOTE=Babbs

The actual cart lane on Morse is not wide enough for a cart and the cart is required to put the right tires in the concrete water ditch which makes the cart unstable many times. Of course I don't know how many accidents occur where a car/truck hit the back corner of cart on Morse, but I don't want to the be one of the ones listed in some list.
The cart lane on Morse is plenty wide enough for any golf cart. On Rio Grande and Del Mar they are not wide enough at all

[gorillarick]

"golf cart community"

I keep hearing that. Doesn't mean they have priority on the roads, it just means - please be more careful, there are golf carts sometimes sharing the roadway here.


It would be safer for everyone if:
Everyone would obey the speed limits (cars and golf carts*).
Everyone stop at stop signs. Yeah, we know you were planning to run the STOP sign when you stop midway into the golf cart lane.
Everyone cut the distracted driving from when you were young and stupid, had better peripheral vision, better vision, better reflexes, better brain.
Alcohol. Twice in the past month I've seen two different golf carts pull up to our postal station with a beer in both their hands. Wow.
No, golf cart isn't a permit to drive while drinking, nor drunk on the way home. (my thought was - probably having a beer on the way to happy hour). sheezze

*golf carts - never over 20mph. period
golf cart paths aren't your little race track. many times I've met a driver head on in a blink curve driving down the middle of the path.
deranged

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by CarlR33

Golf carts play a role also. I see so many running without tail lights on (during near dark, dark or in the rain) or retro “cool back in the day” tail lights that you could not see because they simply jump in the cart and never treat it like an automobile. I heard one recent accident in the south was due to no golf cart lighting in a heavy rain and another cart rear ended it. Second one is distracted cart driving, drinking something, cell phone use, reaching for something in the cart, etc. I have seen examples of all of these many times with the carts.

Good points. A lot of cart drivers don’t seem to realize how hard they can be to see on a grey day or in early morning or evening. Some cars do the same. I think lowering the speed limit to 30 on Morse from 466 north has helped. The original driver was writing about fatalities. I wonder about accidents with no fatalities. Those are worth mention, too. I was in The Villages during all these fatalities. In my recollection, all of these could have been prevented if those in the carts had been wearing seat belts. They might have still been injured, but they’d probably be alive.

[Rocksnap]

I’m reading this thread All I see is a whole lot of ASSUMPTIONS. Not saying accidents don’t happen, but the fatalities I DO know about, are from someone falling OUT of the cart, from what ever the reason.
My advice? Deal with what YOU can control. Your cart, your driving. Zero accidents/fatalities would be a great goal. But it’s not going to happen. Way too many carts driving around. Accidents are going to happen.

[BillyGrown]

Originally Posted by LianneMigiano

From the Daily News front page 8/17: The number of golf cart fatalities in Sumter County between 2020 and 2024 was 12! Roughly half of those took place between El Camino Real and CR 466.
Well, look at a map of that area. On the west side of Buena Vista are the Villages of Glenbrook and Polo Ridge with Alhambra to the north and Santa Domingo to the south of El Camino. The Polo fields and a nature preserve flank most of the east side of Buena Vista. I have lived just a bit north of this general area for 15 years and have not noticed any of the accidents occurring along Buena Vista Blvd. From its' intersection with 466, an easterly trip ALL along 466 shows NO villages other than a very small one (Bridgeport at Laurel Valley) and golf course areas on the southern side of 466. The northern side is almost completely used by the Developers' families. The only remaining area occurs northerly from 466 toward El Camino/Paige Place - i.e. MORSE BLVD! So, maybe I can assume that most of those fatalities have occurred among the numerous villages along that thoroughfare. With the poor folks having to compete too close to motor vehicles for that entire stretch of about 2 miles it's no wonder that it might be where many of the fatalities have occurred. Why are so many folks denying the need to better protect golf cart drivers along that stretch and redesign something to travel more safely on???? We rented in that area for two separate visits before our purchase - and driving along Morse Blvd. frightened the devil out of me!

It may become too dangerous for golf carts and they will have to be banned from using those county roads? We saw a bad fatality near 466 on Wedgewood lane behind the Olive Garden last year. The cart was a tangled mess. They are just no competition for automobiles who must have the priority.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

Don’t forget alcohol.

Thank you! I knew I was forgetting something...