I'm searching too and I agree with you that there should be a posted speed limit on the multi-modal trails, there is one on the bridge on Morse but I have not found any other posted speed limits. I know most if not all of the neighborhoods south of 466 have a posted speed limit of 15mph.

I have read several post where it is recommended to use common sense, my common sense is I don't believe it is safe to drive a vehicle designed to go 14mph per hour 25mph. It is obvious from the number of post that condone exceeding the speed that defines a golf cart as a golf cart that my common sense and theirs are very different.

I feel fortunate that Florida Law allows us to drive 19.8 in our golf carts and don't want to lose that privilege.

It is a privilege, Halle, and it can be revoked by the county for their roads. We'd be seriously limited in our travels if we were unable to drive on roads with cart lanes here in TV. Would it happen? Probably not, TV provides too much $$ to county coffers. Legally it could happen, though.

the speed limit on rio grande is 25mph...the next time you pass a golf cart on that road look down at your speedometer and see how fast you are going!!!!!

I remember our first visit to TV in 2005. We were driving on a major road north of 466 (can't remember which) and there was a golf cart on one of the cart paths. We were driving at 25mph (we checked) and that cart just moved right by us. It was going faster than 25 that particular time.

With all the talk about golf cart speeds, you're right, we do need to remember there are speed limits for autos around here, too.

I'm not sure as a street legal owner you can rationalize the added insurance, tagging etc.charge for 5 mph extra but in some areas of the Villages where cart paths narrow (Morse Blvd. bridge), I feel safer on the street, go figure!!! Was surprised that some Villagers are upset when street leglsl use cart path, thought I was being courteous to cars that might want to go the 35 mph speed.....Besides, lets face it, there are a LOT of carts out there that are not tagged street legal that exceed 25 mph,

I'll admit to being scared when I have to drive over the bridge on Morse. It's narrow and too many people don't obey the posted speed limit there. When there is no golf cart traffic coming towards me, I ride in the middle. When I see another cart, it's over to my lane and an additional decrease in speed. Honestly, I'd feel safer in the traffic there, too.

Actually, one thing I think might could play some part in the need to drive faster....so many have arrived here from areas where driving to and from work was horrific. Some arrive having left traffic from large cities and aggressive driving is more the norm than not. When arriving here, old habits die hard. It takes a while to adjust to driving a bit slower. We left the CA freeway system....a nightmare to say the least. Others could have left the Chicago highway system....that is beyond comprehension and don't even talk about New York, Washington DC, etc. Life in, and the surroundings in TV, beautiful. It's nice to just take a bit of time to enjoy them.

Question.....when you do take the multimodal paths, do you watch your speed? I don't have any problem with street legals on the paths, I just hope they keep the speed down because of walkers, joggers, cyclists, etc.

You're right, there are MANY carts that exceed the golf cart definition speed limit. They're not driving them in the traffic lanes, maybe they think that allows them the right to drive faster than the state allows since they're in the cart lane and not in the flow of vehicles.

I try to behave myself when in the golf cart path, BUT if I come across a 13 mph cart, I've GOT to pass it, sorry!...Some one suggested a minimum speed limit, is there one for golf carts? Like earlier posted, carts are being ticketed for excess speed, this works for awhile...

Saw nothing about minimum speed for carts, and I agree with you about passing a cart going extremely slowly. The rental carts from Villages Golf Cars are really, really slow. Not sure why. Maybe they're slow so you can better see what you'll get if you live here.... ;)

Maybe somebody is rushing to the nearest bathroom??? Maybe they need medical attention and don't have a cell phone??? Just because we're retired doesn't mean there's never a reason to be in a rush.

A Speed Limit on Multimodal Paths???
 

Any discussion of minimum and maximum speeds on multimodal paths ignores the fact that these are multimodal. The paths are used by walkers, runners, cyclists, rollerbladers, motorized chairs, segways, golf carts, LSVs, motor scooters and a few more categories I'm sure I have forgotten. Identical minimum and maximum speeds could not apply to all methods of transportation.

LSVs, built from the ground up for 25mph speeds can safely be driven at that speed. Segways max speed is 12mph. Bicycles and motor scooters can exceed 30mph. I suggest what I see done every day - people using their own common sense on how fast or slow they go. Putting in more rules and having more people to enforce them is just going to result in more people being aggravated - getting more aggravation in my life was not my reason for moving to The Villages.

I have read all 90 posts before mine and I have come to this conclusion.

If you are pulled over by the police in your golf cart simply tell them that you post on Talk of The Villages and you won't get a ticket since in the privious 90 posts 5,337 views not one person has stated that they have received a ticket. They all know of someone, saw someone or heard of someone. The story of the amount or type of ticket is also much varried. I would like to hear from someone who has received a ticket I just hope it won't be me.

I also notice that Lady Lake police are putting empty police cars at busy intersections. Perhaps the Sumter County Sherrif has put mannequins by a motorcycle and mannequins next to a golf cart and it looks like they are writting tickets.

As Talk of The Villages posters we must be exempt!

Okay... you got me. I confess... I was the Sumter County mannequin standing next to the golf cart that wasn't giving out tickets to speeders. You guys are just too sharp for me. Therefore, TOTV posters are hereby exempt. Just mention my name.

Really not sure how to interpret this, but I will have to tell my neighbor about this so maybe she now does not have to pay that ticket she showed me last week or perhaps can forget about going to court this week to try to contest it. Seemed very real to me when I saw it.

Did notice today that Sumter County Sheriff has put up one of those signs that tell you how fast you are going on Barnsdale Run in Hadley. Rather strange location to choose unless there is more to this than I know.

FANTASTIC, logdog. Now I REALLY DO appreciate your "icon".:clap2::1rotfl:

Think of it this-away
 

20 mph cart gets passed by a 30 mph cart equals. 50% faster.

70 mph car gets passed by a 105 mph car equals the same 50% faster.

Get the picture?


That's stupid to be going that much faster than the normal traffic. Why? because the speeding cart will come up on the slower cart faster than normal and potentially slam into the slower cart or sideswipe the slower cart. And for what? to get to the golf course three minutes quicker. Please people use some reasonable sense about cart speeds.

Those were real police officers I saw today on Davenport Drive in Summerhill. They were hiding behind a big oak tree and aiming their radar gun at golf carts.

Personally, I think common sense goes both ways. Going to fast is dangerous, but going too slow can cause accidents too. People forget things, get tied up or for some reason can't leave earlier. When they come up on someone driving really slow while their driving at a reasonable speed, it's kind of hard to not want to pass. I think we all have to use a little common sense and courtesy, the slow driver and the lead footed one like me. Not there full time yet, but we love getting around on a cart, and having police hiding in the weeds, behind trees and signs takes some of the fun out of it for me. Makes me a little paranoid :police:

My friend received a ticket in his gas cart for going 25 [not street legal]. Went to court with a letter from his cart store saying the cart was de-tuned down to 20MPH. Had the ticket suspended, court costs were $250 bucks. Spoke to the Sumter county Sheriff [Bennett] today and he said they ticket for anyone 25MPH and over non street legal. The judge decides the fine....it varies. The sheriff still cannot ticket you on the cart path for speeding when it is on CDD private property. That would be off the main road.

I did a test the other day with my 2000 Par Car cart after reading all of this as I was curious. My cart goes 27MPH down the hills of Odell by Mallory. That is with my foot OFF the "go" pedal, just coasting. All you series cart owners watch out for them hills. I wonder how coasting is interpretted by the law, If I showed him the cart going up that hill he would probably rip up the ticket :)

You got that right. Wait till the gate laws go into effect. The people may think it will not effect them but if they ride a golf cart, motorcycle, or bicycle. So not only are they going to get you for speeding but going around the gates will get you a big TICKET.

I ride with some people whose carts go faster downhill than on level ground or uphills.

Both of my carts (2003 Club Car and 2008 EZGO) have an "electronic governer" on them that slows me down to 19 MPH going downhill. When I asked the Club car mechanic if he could get rid of that governer when the cart gets out of warranty, he said no. This makes it easier for me to not get a ticket.

speeding
 

I was told that if your cart is street legal, you can drive on the ROAD faster than 20 mph and be okay...is this true? (my cart goes 33 mph)

With all the talk about patrols giving golf carts speeding tickets, just once I would rather see a patrol car ride past my house, I have been in the villages for over 2 years and have never seen a patrol car on my street. I feel its more important than spending the time giving someone a ticket for doing 25mph.

To me, the main point is that if you have a modified cart you are not covered by insurance. You may think you are since you paid the premium, but you pay for golf cart insurance. If it is modified, it's no longer a golf cart under Florida law and your insurer will not pay the claims. This is not something I have imagined. It came directly from an Allstate agent at a golf cart safety seminar at Savannah Center. She stated that when one of their insured carts is in an accident the first thing they do is check to see if it has been modified. If it has, they stop their investigation right there and will not pay anything. The speed the cart was going when the accident occurred is irrelevant. The modification nullifies the policy even though the cart may only have been traveling 10mph. End of story. If you are involved in an accident and it is determined to be your fault, it will come out of your pocket. If there are injuries, it can cost you dearly. Your retirement could even be in jeopardy due to medical expenses for the injured party, not to mention the lawsuit that is bound to follow.

I was seriously thinking about modifying my cart before I went to this seminar. Once I got this information, I decided to stay legal. I enjoy my retirement too much to risk losing it so I can drive a golf cart 25mph.

Golf Cart Speed
 

Sounds to me that people just won't be happy with their cart speed until they push so far that this 'PREVILIGE' is taken away from The Villages.

Then quess what they will complain about - "we can't use our golf carts anymore".

Retire, slow down and enjoy the last few years we have.

I think this is the single most important post in this 104 post thread.

This explains it pretty clearly for me...don't know what the "kick" is about modifying a cart anyway. It truly makes me nervous to see the "road-ready" carts out amongst traffic. NOT a safe prospect in my view. PLUS if you want "fast"...drive your car!!!

Have you ever tried to stop a regular golf car going 20MPH...............

i agree with mr dills.......if you want to go fast get a lsv......they are safe and the purchase price is comparable to a golf cart. insurance is more but the added safety is worth it!

I hope that this important piece of information is read and understood by all golf cart drivers.

Modifying your golf cart could cost you your happy retirement.

These points have been made before and can't be repeated too often. Any one who reads iandwk's message and does not heed it is taking a great risk. It would be like buying a new car and not insuring it. The loss could be catastrophic.

I want to emphasis one of iandwks comments. "Allstate agent at a golf cart safety seminar at Savannah Center. She stated that when one of their insured carts is in an accident the first thing they do is check to see if it has been modified.". An insurance adjusters job is to make sure the company does not pay any claims that they do not have to.

eyegirl, a legal street vehicle is not supposed to exceed 25 mph.

While this seems an intuitive statement and I have no doubt an agent stated this, I'm not sure it would be legal for them to refuse coverage, based upon a speed modification. If it isn't written in the policy, it would be hard to enforce. This would be the same as you changing the type of tire on your car and then your agent telling you the tires were not as safe as the original equipment; therefore, no coverage....or more specifically, you modify your cars performance in one way or another and then your insurance is voided.

Just my thinking and that's why there are exclusions on your policy...

If you insure your private car, then use it for drag racing or rental or livery or a thrill show or stock car racing or target practice, your insurance company will not pay. Speed control equipment is considered safety equipment. If you alter the safety equipment to allow speed faster than that which is legal, I'm sure your insurance company will have a good case. I'll bet that that exclusion is in the policy.

Oh yes, it WOULD be legal to deny coverage - because it would no longer meet the Definition of the covered vehicle. I'm a former auto insurance claims adjuster, and believe me, we were trained to look for these things and deny coverage when it is appropriate - and it is appropriate if it doesn't meet the definition.

Please note there is a DIFFERENCE between an insurance agent (who sells policies) and an insurance adjuster (who handles claims on policies). Just because an agent told you something was covered does NOT mean that it actually is. Trust me on this one.

Some coverage exclusions are spelled out - but not all. There is a lot of gray area, but normally courts (where policy language is tested regularly) always go back to the Definitions. Of course, juries can mostly decide anything they want, but insurance companies have the means to pursue an unfavorable judgment further (by appealing). I personally wouldn't want to take the chance.

This is pretty much what the agent said at the seminar. You buy coverage for a golf cart. If it has been modified, it no longer meets the state's definition of a golf cart and the agency will not cover it, since you either fraudulently obtained the policy with the claim that it was a golf cart or fraudulently maintained the policy after altering it. Ignorance of the terms of the policy is no excuse. If I had any doubts I would contact an attorney. Like the quote above, I wouldn't just trust the agent.

I think all of us have been around long enough to know that it will be hard enough to get an adjuster to properly pay a claim if you are completely legal.

The exception would be if you are on Buena Vista or Morse Blvd.

Nice quote, but...

Define modified. In my opinion and for your information our carts are modified. Prior to modification, they would only do about 12 mph. Gears have been changed (modified). Tire size increased for the purpose of speed. (modified). I am sure that that's not all. My cart is as it came from the show room. For the most part, it'll bounce between 19 and 20 mph. If I keep the peddle to the metal for some distance it can hit 22 but that takes a lot of "ideal" conditions. I had it in for annual service last week. I rechecked the speed. It hit 23 (for less than a second) on a steep down grade, "floored". I asked about this and was told "that's about right. These things can't be adjusted that accurately and speed changes with time." So, just what is "modified?" Am I going to jail? Are the speed traps for "revenue enhancement"? Do the insurance companies plan to use these "modifications" as an out if the claim gets too big?

I never intend to brake the law. Do I speed? No but I bet that on occasion my golf cart does.

Maybe I need to get rid of my golf cart and get a bike. Where do I put my clubs? If I have to stop too often I loose my balance but I guess that's what helmets are for. Can I get a ticket for running a stop signe on a bike? What if I speed going down hill?

Oh CRAP. I thought retirement was going to be fun.

Just some thoughts

Yoda

It is written in my policy in very clear terms. I could dig out that section of the policy and post the actual wording here but, trust me, it's there.

It has already been said here that there is a difference between an agent and an adjuster. An agent is trying to earn a commission and an adjuster is paid to determine the validity of the claim and they are well trained in their art.

I thought it was obvious that "modified" as used in this context refers to a golf cart that has been modified so that it no longer fits the state's definition of a golf cart, instead being made fast enough to be an lsv. In case you haven't noticed there are many many carts running around in TV that are not street legal, yet go at least 25mph. One doesn't have to agree with it, and one can protest by modifying his or her golf cart without ever being caught. Just be ready to pay if something happens.

If you are in doubt about your cart, find the deputy at Spanish Springs and he will check the speed of your cart and tell you if you are in compliance. He said any night but Friday and Saturday because he is too busy with teenagers. He will take you to a parking lot in the area and test with his radar. He promised no tickets if you are too fast, but if you are too fast he said he will strongly urge you to get it fixed. He was at the same seminar as the Allstate agent, and he said that they are really watching for golf carts that have been modified to do 25 mph or more. He said they caught one guy doing 36 mph.

I know myself well enough to know that if my cart will do 30, I will drive it at 30. Maybe not all the time, but the temptation will be too great to avoid. Couple that with no insurance coverage and it has the potential for financial disaster.