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What exactly is the problem you are looking to solve?

In reading comments from afar, I noticed supervisors, other elected officials and village people commenting on golf cart speeding and the need to address this issue. Yet, I have not found any data that has been collected to conclude that speeding is taking place. So, why not collect the data to help determine if there is a lot of speeding on the multi-modal paths? If a significant number of carts are speeding, then do what is necessary to slow down the flow. Notice, I am not making suggestions on how to solve this potential problem as I am a newbie.

My reasons for seat belts. Caught my wife sleeping in the passenger seat w/o a belt, if passenger is leaning forward and driver makes a quick left turn the passenger may fall out and I came accost a golf cart that had run head on into a tree. The seat broke loose and the driver had to be transported to the hospital.

Yes, there is a lot of speeding by golf carts. There is also a lot of speeding by cars on the roads. I think it is safe to say there are a lot of people driving 20-24 mph on the MMPs. Is this a problem? Presumably the real issue is golf cart accidents. The issue with golf cart accidents is a lack of attention at intersections, blind curves, and parking lots. I don't believe we need any studies. People just need to drive their carts in a cautious manner and pay attention at those points where they can come in contact with other carts and cars. This is essentially the same issue with cars. A certain percentage of the population will drive recklessly no matter what.

There is absolutely no need to run a study to determine if people are speeding in carts.They definitely are. Just ride on any path on any day at the speedlimit and you will be passed numerous times.

The real question - is speeding a significant contributor to accidents ? From most of what we read the problem is mainly pilot error for issues other than speed.

So, there are a significant number of law breakers, speeders in the Villages? As the speed limit is 20 M.P.H. on the multi-modal paths, Village officials must then address the enforcement of this law or just overlook this one crazy, inconsequential law?

If your question is, are tickets issued to golf cart drivers? The answer is yes.


Go to the toolbar above and find search and type in "golf cart ticketing".


Here is one thread;


https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...cart+ticketing

It is presumably overlooked just like cars speeding on the roads is overlooked. You can't police every inch of the MMPs or the roads.

From a 2011 posting ->"The multi-modal paths are not owned by the county. But Florida laws allow a deed restricted community to turn over traffic enforcement of their private roads to the sheriff’s department. But to my knowledge, TV has not done this for the multi-modal paths. So the citations to golf carts would have occurred on the county owned roads in TV. "

All of my thoughts were on speeding on the multi-modal paths. I do believe that it would take a change to the existing CDD regulations to let someone ticket those just speeding on the multi-modal paths.

"You can't police every inch of the MMPs or the roads."

As I would love to place a political sign in my window, do you think the Villages will ignore my breaking of this rule? There are so many windows to police?

We have enough RULES here. No more please. Want to be safe then pay attention to what you are doing and to others around you. Most all accidents are the result of not paying attention. If you want seat belts put them in. No need to require them for others.

I remember a memo from Janet Tutt ( or the District's atty) refering to the issue of speeding om the MMP's (not public streets) As I recall the statement was that the MMP's are not public facilities and that no county agency can enforce traffic laws thereon. Essentially the document or her comments indicated that there was virtually no way to enforce speed limits on the MMP's
Im sure some poster here can cite the thread to which I refer

Under current CDD regulations, I believe you are correct.

The following is one of the best studies I have seen on this topic.

Quoting from the article:

Study Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess current trends and identify key issues and best practices for safely accommodating golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs), particularly neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), within community transportation networks. The study was commissioned by the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) in response to increasing requests for information on the topic from state AARP offices and city planners. Numerous states and communities are grappling with legislative proposals to address the increasing use of LSVs and golf carts for everyday travel on local streets and paths. These policies are relevant to all age groups but have a particular significance to older adults.

The conclusions and recommendations are found starting on page 20. I will highlight a few of them.

*Ensure that policy makers, law enforcement officials, city planners, and the public are fully aware of the vulnerability of golf carts compared to LSVs and LSVs compared to passenger cars.

*Provide law enforcement agencies with the resources necessary to enforce laws governing LSV and golf cart use.

*All golf carts and LSVs should be registered with the appropriate local or state government agency.

*Require that both golf carts and LSVs be appropriately insured before their use on public and private roads and trails.

*Enforce 20 mph speed limits on multiuse trails.

*Invest in data collection, analyses, and research that will help American communities safely integrate golf carts and LSVs into their transportation networks.

Many of the recommendations in the study have already been implemented and are working well in the Villages. Others need and should be addressed.

http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/.../insight54.pdf

I think you shouldn't get golf cart. It's not regulated enough for you. Reason I say this you have posted several times on the subject. I feel you will not be satisfied no matter what laws are inacted???:plane::police:

I think you're missing the big picture, who's checking the drivers inside Walmart. I'm seeing far too many accidents and half the aisles you can't move.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7w/TSnfPrs.jpg

I don't see side or center stripes on the Walmart aisles. I am pretty sure that is the problem ;-)

Please note that I am only presenting some of the information found in a very comprehensive case study on golf car multi-modal paths. . The Villages golf cart usage was a part of this study. I would encourage others to try to find a better analysis of golf cars on multi-modal trails.

Village Supervisors are already considering some of the ideas in this study. Quoting District 2 Supervisor Blum :” Each of the residents of The Villages need to look at themselves and adjust personal behaviors, address personal golf cart safety and reduce the speed on the multi-modal paths and work toward revising Florida Chapter 190 to provide enforcement power on the multi-modal paths.”

Please read->http://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/P...20150720pa0301

The point I am trying to make to you who I think is a very nice man....is that The Villages, how it's run, how groups from all over the country live here and think differently, and cook differently and eat differently and vote differently and have different styles of interacting and doing things...and how The way The Villages itself is different than any thing that we have experienced before...takes time to absorb. In a year or two, if you are like most of us, the understanding of this place, and it's people and how things work and where things are becomes clearer and usually people relax and embrace it....rather than try to change it.


All homeowners are equal and important. But this place is very different than any other place that any of us have lived before and it takes getting used to. It is a very different place in the middle of January than it is in the middle of June. The climate and the people change. It becomes more dangerous to drive during the high season, harder to get a tee time, longer to wait at restaurants. People become impatient and critical more when we are crowded. Most new folks are excited to do everything, try everything, go go go all day and then gradually people find what they like best to do and who they like best to be with and sort of just become more mellow and usually are very happy and peaceful here.

So, what do you think of this multi-modal case study I referenced? Are the ideas presented valid?
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/.../insight54.pdf

While I don’t belong to AARP, I find their interest in this topic a positive and their conclusions thought provoking.

I don't belong to AARP either but I have been told I should consider going to one of their thought provoking meetings.

It’s a crazy world we live in. In order to fly my 4oz RC aircraft at the polo field in the Villages, I must be an AMA member which then proves that I have insurance coverage to fly. Yet, anyone in the Villages can drive a 900 pound or heavier golf cart without any required insurance. Go figure.

Are you thinking of Columbia Par Cars? I think that is just their corporate name, no intention to mislead.

I think that has been gently suggested a few times.

And they may have visual limitations that prevent them for qualifying for a Driver's License. Plus they may be driving without insurance. :shocked:

Please do not try and get any government, local,state, or federal involved! You can get your cart equipped anyway you want. The rentals are just a basic Villages cart. If you feel so unsafe in one stay in your car. Accidents happen always drive defensively.

I usually ride pedal to the metal, which is around 19-20mph. I honestly rarely get passed. Less than one time per trip, on average.

Try the a TomTom GPS, they show how fast you are going. I bet a friend has TomTom om their Iphone!! we do!!

For starters, I believe and have heard on this site that seat belts are a must. Should they be made mandatory?[/QUOTE]


If you read the accidents in golf cart info in the VHA newsletter, delivered to every resident, you will see that most of the major injuries to drivers/passengers is for being ejected form their carts, not form being trapped in them. Seat belts may not be mandatory, but they are recommended by the Police and Sheriffs departments., and they see the accidents..just saying it is better safe than sorry. Most dealerships install the after market seat belts.

AND....Please have those little kids belted in. You cannot hold on to them an still keep yourself in the cart if there is an accident.