Turning across traffic from the cart lane.

[Talk Host]

It wasn't the the first time, but it was the most recent. I was driving my car West on Calumet today. There was a golf cart traveling West in the cart lane. As I prepared to pass him, (I was driving about 23 miles per hour) he stuck his left arm straight out and turned across in front of me into the Calumet postal station. (He did not blend into traffic as he is suppose to)

It was close enough that I had to blast my horn as I stopped to avoid running over top of him. Well, of course, all his arm waving and mouthing of words in my direction indicated that he was sure I was in the wrong.

Yes folks, I put the window down and called him an "idiot." He could have been a dead idiot if I had not been aware that he was very capable of doing exactly what he did.

Sir, if you are reading this, please learn the driving rules. And BTW YAAI.

[zcaveman]

I agree with you. I have one guy I ride with who always waits until the last second to turn left down a street. I tell him he is supposed to signal, move into the car lane and then turn. He keeps telling me that the cars have the right of way. Five years and I cannot convince him to do it correctly.

[Sidney Lanier]

As a golf cart driver, I do understand the need to signal left, move slowly into the car lane (of course when there isn't a car right there...), and then turn left. But cars DO have the right-of-way over golf carts, don't they? At least that's my understanding....

And what does 'YAAI' stand for?

[samhass]

I think it means "You are an idiot."

[DDoug]

Don't you know by now that golf carts have the right of way here contrary to the fact of what a solid white line means or the fact that turning left still means the same as any where in the US. I ride a motorcycle and stunts like that will get you killed.I think it should be mandatory for a regional golf cart test and licencing be imposed here and register the carts after all they do run on the roads. It would be for everyone safety. I understand 5 people have been killed here,that in its self should indicate some thing.

[HankD]

I too had a very "near miss" today. >:( I was coming across from Morse Blvd on Stillwater and had just gotten the gate up and started in when... you guessed it, a cart with a large blond woman crossed right in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes. When I yelled out the window at her "Jeezus Lady" her reply was "yeah,yeah,yeah". Well next time I may not see her and there will be one more fatality here in TV :'( My 4000 pound truck will trump your little 800 pound cart anyday of the week. Believe me when I say this...I am still so steamed at her callus regard for her safety and mine that if I saw her this very minute she would be having her ears burning before I got through with her. Not to mention causing me to have an operation to get my size 10 1/2 shoe cut out of her butt :edit: When are the powers that be going to require golf cart testing and skill levels :dontknow: How many dead do we have to have ??? And finally... Hey! BIG FAT BLONDE YAAI

[Talk Host]

I'm afraid that many people who live here retire not only from their job, but also from their social responsibility.

[renielarson]

I'm very careful now about name calling or gestures.

Years ago a truck cut me off and I promptly flipped the bird to the driver while yelling "You SOB" and "You MF". Not once did I flip the bird or yell, not twice...but a multitude of times. I was furious and very, very young!

Well, I followed that truck for miles. In fact, I followed it right into the parking lot of where I worked. Turned out he worked at the same place I did.

Now, I won't say he didn't deserve some kind of reaction...however, I was embarrassed at how I dealt with the situation.

Whenever another driver gets me going....I have a mental flashback...

I chalk it up...and thank God I'm still alive to remember the incident.

[Talk Host]

A friend of mine was cut off by a kid in a car a couple of years ago. Then the kid flipped my friend the bird and shouted a few choice words at him. The kid then punched it and flew down the street. My friend took chase and finally caught up to him at a red light. My friend arrested him because my friend was the Sheriff of Broome County, New York and he was in his unmarked black Ford Expedition.

[renielarson]

And...what's the point, Talk Host?

Did you ever do anything as a young man you wished you'd never have done?

That was my point.

[Talk Host]

And...what's the point, Talk Host?

Did you ever do anything as a young man you wished you'd never have done?

That was my point.


I'm not sure I was trying to make a point. I was just exercising my right to continue the discussion with a story that I thought was humorous. you exercised your right to continue the discussion by telling a story on yourself that you thought had a point.

BTW, the people here in the villages are not "young men". They still do things they wish they hadn't done.

[renielarson]

:agree: that age plays no part with doing things we sometimes regret.
;D ;D ;D

[beady]

I guess you could say the moral of Brightspots story is........Be careful to whom you flip the bird. 1rnfl 1rnfl

[Cajungirl]

While Hubby and I were purchasing our new home in TV, friends of ours loaned us one of their golf carts to get the "feel". We drove it one time and took our car the rest of the time. I have to tell you that I was very uncomfortable not knowing where the "trails" were even with a map in hand. He was driving and I was looking at map and still we didn't see some points of entry and "non entry" for golf carts until too late where we had to back up or simply take a uturn quickly. Thank God for patient TVers who knew beyond a doubt we had "no clue". They simply smiled and waited patiently until we corrected ourselves. All this to say that when I move in next week I will always try to remember that when someone does something "dumb" on golf carts they are probably new to the area. I will always try to remember to drive like a golf cart will come out of nowhere and I will have to stop. There was only one time where a lady in her big SUV almost ran us over, got right behind us and blew her horn. We simply pulled to the right (we were in our car) and let her go on by. She probably had an important T time and was late. That's my 2cents worth.

[Talk Host]

All this to say that when I move in next week I will always try to remember that when someone does something "dumb" on golf carts they are probably new to the area.


You are very kind to think that. Like in every city, there are those who do dumb things after living here for a long time.

[Cajungirl]

I agree with you totally. I don't for one minute think that my being a defensive driver will save every idiot who is not paying attention to "the moment". There are people on cell phones and others who are ablivious to their surroundings. They are thinking of everything other than their driving. I've been guilty of that a time or two myself. Please don't misunderstand, I've done and said a few things myself to stupid drivers. My post, I think, was to remind myself that in a golf cart environment one should always expect the golf cart driver to do something stupid whether a newbie or a croaker. No pun intended. Imagine having to live with yourself if through no fault of your own an irresponsible driver pulls out in front of you and you kill him or her. There are a lot of people who should not be driving those carts until they are very familiar with the area, myself included. I know you were referring to residents who have been driving for quite some time. Unfortunately, there is little any of us can do to make these people more responsible and more aware. Take care

[Frangyomory]

I really wish there were a road test for golf cart drivers. Sometimes they reallly upset me. They act as though they have the right of way and those of us in cars are morons!!!!!!! Part of the problem is that some of the golf cart drivers have never driven a car and never had a driver's license. They have not learned the rules of the road, etc.

Maybe the sherrif's departments should get together and develop a road test for golf carts.

Every week you read of "unidentified" golf cart driver either medivaced, killed or transported to local hospital due to a single vehicle accident or an accident involving a car. We need to teach these good folks the rules of the road!!!! crap