Right when I think I have it figured out, you come up with another scenario. I am back to wondering now just what would be the right way to do it. This might be a good topic for The Daily Sun to put in an article after talking with the Police. Obviously there is a lot of confusion about this.

I've also had a car turn in front of me with no warning (no signals) causing me to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting her. I believe a cart going straight has right of way over a car turning. Just as if you are on foot crossing a side street, a car doesn't have the right to run you over by deciding to make a turn into you. However, size does matter. I don't walk into car traffic and I practice defensive driving. As I've said before, you're in a vehicle that only goes 20 mph. How big a hurry can you be in? Enjoy the scenery and watch out for the other guy.

[quote=cashman;287785]I appreciate your intentions.

I assure you and our other readers I only wanted to bring the letter of the law into this subject.

You stated, "I believe Florida usually defines "vehicle", in its traffic laws, as a licensed vehicle".

According to Florida Statutes, Title XXIII, Chapter 316.003, Paragraph 75, a vehicle is described as,

(75)VEHICLE.—Every device, in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

I am hopeful this clears me of your charge "you may confuse the issue". In fact, I believe it clarifies the issue as that was my original intention.

If you want clarification of any other part of the statute quoted by me, simply go the web site of the aforementioned Florida Statutes.

I agree
 

[quote=downeaster;287988]I agree that the driver of the car should yield to everyone on his right before he turns. It is no different than yielding to pedestrians who are crossing the street going the same direction at the car.
BUT, as my dad used to tell me.. you never want to be DEAD RIGHT.. I would always yield to any vehicle to avoid an accident.
My rule number one in life is the same as Boxing... protect yourself at all times.

I used to ride a motorcycle and I know a lot of you still do. You know and I know that just because you have the right of way, doesn't mean the other driver will let you have it. I haven't had the opportunity to drive a golf cart yet, but hopefully, I will be as lucky with ours, when we get one, as I was with my motorcycle. I have had people cut me off while riding, but you just have to watch out for them.

Just had a new experience today. We were driving our golf cart on the multimodal path next to the library. Suddenly I looked in my rear view mirror in time to see a car jump the curb and start to follow me on the path. We waved our arms at the driver to warn her that she shouldn't be on the path and she mouthed "I know, I know" and continued up the path. I pulled over onto the grass (remember my saying earlier that size does matter) and gave her right of way. She continued on and pulled off at the corner. I think she must have forgot that she wasn't driving the golf cart that day. Once again, I'm pretty sure I had right of way but decided I wasn't in that much of a hurry to fight for it.

WHOA!!! How frightening!! Hope that you managed to get their license-plate number and reported the overly aggressive, illegal and most of all seriously dangerous driver!!

I was too shocked and surprised to see a car in my rear view to even think about getting a plate number. I tried to follow her to see her get off the path and make sure she didn't hit anyone, but she was too fast for me.

How bizarre, especially that she mouthed "I know". It does make me wonder if she got a life-threatening emergency call of some kind that made her panic to get somewhere. :( Not defending the action, just trying to understand someone knowingly doing something so dangerous, stupid and bizarre.

suppose it's possible
 

that the driver of the car on the cart path was just in a supreme hurry, but I kind of think the other scenario - forgot she was not driving a golf cart - is the more likely one.

I was an auto claims adjuster for several years, taking numerous recorded statements, and you would just not believe what some people will tell you. You couldn't make it up.

My favorites were these: one a young girl with a recent license, when asked what color her traffic light was, said she "wasn't actually looking, but the light there is 'almost always' red."!?!

Another was a woman making a left turn into a strip center parking lot, turned left across 2 lanes of traffic and was struck by a car which then left the scene. She was injured, taken by ambulance to an ER, and later found out she'd been cited for failure to yield. When I took her statement she told me she was going to fight the ticket. Curious, I asked her why. She told me, "there was no yield sign on my street." (middle of the block).

You gotta love it. And these people had driver's licenses (some don't). You just can NEVER count on the other driver obeying the law or even having common sense, especially in the roundabouts or wherever a roadway and a multi-modal path may meet.

question, if u are driving in a cart on a street with a golf cart lane and need to turn left at the next intersection 300 feet ahead, do u, 1) stay in golf cart lane and turn left when u get to the intersection, or 2) merge into the car lane prior to the intersection and turn left from the car lane??....gn

When taking a left in a golf cart, I always merge into the car lane with my blinker on AND a hand signal. The key word being merge and I always use a hand signal for this move.

I see this as the same situation in reverse of the one we were talking about with cars taking a right. The car is crossing a lane of traffic (even if it is cart or bike traffic) and must merge. I know people take exception with the word merge, as a car should never be in golf cart lane, but to take a right in front of a cart I must give the cart clearance AND I must ensure the cart will not try to pass as I slow down if they are not paying attention to realize I am turning.

JMO

aj, my point exactly, when i am turning right where there is a golf cart lane i safely "merge" into the cart lane prior to turning (just like the sheriff said we should do) to prevent a cart from trying to pass while i am turning...gn

Yes, by all means, in a left turn situation, merge into the car lane (cautiously!) and use signal lights and hand signal.

I have no problem with the right turn "merging into the cart lane" method. However, I find it is frequently misinterpreted by the cart driver. I tend to pace myself and let the cart get ahead of me and clear the red of the street I am turning into. (Into which I am turning?). I bet nine times out of ten he/she is totally unaware of my presence.

Legality
 

If a unlicensed golf cart is on a public road (as you suggest for a left turn)
they would be breaking the law wouldn't they?