Potential Deadly Situation

[Chatbrat]

The other day I was driving on 484 westbound & I saw a tree limb fall on the road way. If a person or a vehicle was under it they would have been gonzo. It was one of those old oak trees with lots of moss hanging.

How does this affect the Villages. Look at the similar tree branches in the Villages.
Are any of these branches on the verge of falling? Do you think your golf cart or you would survive?

The county should start trimming the moss & inspecting for hazards--its more important than replacing pine straw.

[outlaw]

The other day I was driving on 484 westbound & I saw a tree limb fall on the road way. If a person or a vehicle was under it they would have been gonzo. It was one of those old oak trees with lots of moss hanging.

How does this affect the Villages. Look at the similar tree branches in the Villages.
Are any of these branches on the verge of falling? Do you think your golf cart or you would survive?

The county should start trimming the moss & inspecting for hazards--its more important than replacing pine straw.

I don't think the county would be responsible for the trees overhanging the MMP. I'm not even sure they would be responsible for the trees overhanging the roadways, if the trees are on TV privately owned property.

[Topspinmo]

Especially dangerous when raining and wind blowing

[graciegirl]

If you think about how the potential for some deadly disease increases as we age, it will take your mind off of a tree falling on you.

Works for me.

[Chatbrat]

Its not just on MMP its on Buena Vista--I don't care whose responsibility it is --FIX IT--if someone gets killed or injured----this will be a big liability case.

[jnieman]

I think in areas of the country where there are electric wires that alot more tree trimming goes on along the roadways. A friend of mine in Ohio's son was killed by a tree limb falling on his car while he was driving down the road. Probably best to stay out from under the old trees especially during a storm.

[Chatbrat]

It best to stay away from trees during a storm, but, in Florida storms can pop up with very little warning--just FIX IT

[outlaw]

Its not just on MMP its on Buena Vista--I don't care whose responsibility it is --FIX IT--if someone gets killed or injured----this will be a big liability case.

It's probably best to have an expert engineer conduct a study to document if, in fact, the accident/incident rate justifies the expenditure of funds toward this effort. Based on reported incidents, we may find that there is no safety issue whatsoever. It may boil down to those who can't survive a tree limb falling on them should just stay at home.:agree:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I often wonder about this when I am driving under some of these trees. There's that that's especially scary on the MMP along 466. if you take the tunnel under Morse just after Mission Hills and go right when exiting the tunnel you go on to a MMP that winds around a bit. At the end of this winding section is a live oak branch that reaches almost all the way across the MMP and is only about 8 feet off the ground. There are also several in some of the parks around The Villages and I always wonder what the chances are of them coming down.

[Villager Joyce]

The other day I was driving on 484 westbound & I saw a tree limb fall on the road way. If a person or a vehicle was under it they would have been gonzo. It was one of those old oak trees with lots of moss hanging.

How does this affect the Villages. Look at the similar tree branches in the Villages.
Are any of these branches on the verge of falling? Do you think your golf cart or you would survive?

The county should start trimming the moss & inspecting for hazards--its more important than replacing pine straw.

The majority of us probably agree with you. Unfortunately, tbat doesn't change anything. Have you contacted FDOT or tbe county or TV to see about getting the situation rectified?

[ugotme]

Sorry, can not worry about this stuff.

If one thing doesn't kill ya another will.

Okay - tee time coming up!

[chuckinca]

I often wonder about this when I am driving under some of these trees. There's that that's especially scary on the MMP along 466. if you take the tunnel under Morse just after Mission Hills and go right when exiting the tunnel you go on to a MMP that winds around a bit. At the end of this winding section is a live oak branch that reaches almost all the way across the MMP and is only about 8 feet off the ground. There are also several in some of the parks around The Villages and I always wonder what the chances are of them coming down.


Our 70 ft tall Oak in CA was just cut down yesterday; not danger anymore.

[Jima64]

It is hard to tell how sick some of these oak trees are until they do fall and you see that the core is really rotten. They do have a good root system and can withstand high winds.

[tomwed]

Are any near the gates? I'm working on an idea.

[Jimturner]

If you think about how the potential for some deadly disease increases as we age, it will take your mind off of a tree falling on you.

Works for me.

Gracie, you made me smile with your post.

It is better to live than exist.

[CFrance]

If you think about how the potential for some deadly disease increases as we age, it will take your mind off of a tree falling on you.

Works for me.
Gad, you're brilliant sometimes!

[CFrance]

It's probably best to have an expert engineer conduct a study to document if, in fact, the accident/incident rate justifies the expenditure of funds toward this effort. Based on reported incidents, we may find that there is no safety issue whatsoever. It may boil down to those who can't survive a tree limb falling on them should just stay at home.:agree:
Plus what is the cost per homeowner to have these trees monitored and trimmed back? I mean, if we're screaming about $1 per person so people can see the sides of mmp's at night...

[tomwed]

If you think about how the potential for some deadly disease increases as we age, it will take your mind off of a tree falling on you.

Works for me.
You're right Gracie, "Two words to the wise are redundant". My father use to say that everyday or something like that; I forget.

[Sandtrap328]

Many times I have seen workers trimming the Spanish moss from trees and their trucks are filled with the trimmed moss. I have also seen the workers trim tree branches on a regular basis from alongside Buena Vista Blvd.

[Greg Nelson]

they sell the moss?

[Kevin and Luci]

Didn't we buy here for this beauty? Who wants to look at great oaks that look like coat racks? I'm sure there are many willing to take our chances with this risk.
I for one enjoy driving the cart and car through the many areas that have the live oaks and moss.

[rubicon]

There are so many variables to the issue of liability when it comes to foilage/trees. Was it an act of God? Was there a reasonable expectation that the hazard was known by the owner? Was the owner given notice of a potential hazard? ................................ a branch falling in itself is not an act of negligence and if you are not there any evidence that it may noise when it dropped:D

I have to admit that after 9 years of traveling the multi-modal paths the main focus of my attention is looking straight ahead to determine if someone or something is in my path of travel. Never once did I look up to see if a tree limb or even bird poop was about to descend.

Now I wonder if I can continue my same practice of looking forward only and be surprised by a jolt on my head:eek::D

[outlaw]

More reason to have a very fast golf cart. You spend lass time under these dangerous trees. Hmmm? "FAST CARTS SAVE LIVES."

[Retiring]

Not just dangerous but can be very annoying and inconvenient. Just a few years ago, while driving on a major road in AZ, a very small branch fell and hit my hood. It was more of a large twig than a branch. Nevertheless it caused $1200 damage to the hood and right front fender. I could have sued the city of Scottsdale for the repair, but I didn’t have the energy to “fight city hall,” so I just had it fixed. No injuries or fatalities but it did scare the #./@* out of me.

[golfing eagles]

Maybe we can get the people who cut the trees at Lake Minoa last year to trim these. Perhaps a judge would sentence them to community service. Since they like cutting trees, looks like win-win

[golfing eagles]

Are any near the gates? I'm working on an idea.

LOL. I think we're starting to think alike:beer3:

[dbussone]

they sell the moss?


Yup. It is sterilized and sold for use in planters. When you walk into a building look at the planters. Many will have moss as filler.

[Jim 9922]

Worry about trees bonking me on the head or whatever; not me. I worry much more about damage from drunks and pot heads driving and idiots making left turns at major intersections when they can't see what's coming at them.

[fred53]

Bah! When it's your time....it's your time...the old large oaks are managed quite well compared to other areas of the country and having one fall on you, your car/cart happens so rarely they'd have to denude any trees hanging over the roads to FIX IT as someone keeps harping....others have stated to stay off the road during high wind times...great idea...of course if it's an emergency you have other things to worry about and falling limbs are pretty low on the list...

To the "sky is falling" person who posted this....why aren't you more outraged at those elderly(all of us)who drive their cars and carts and endanger all in their path? There are hundreds more accidents involving them than any tree limb damage....

[Lovey2]

nevermind...:sad:

[Villager Joyce]

The other day I was driving on 484 westbound & I saw a tree limb fall on the road way. If a person or a vehicle was under it they would have been gonzo. It was one of those old oak trees with lots of moss hanging.

How does this affect the Villages. Look at the similar tree branches in the Villages.
Are any of these branches on the verge of falling? Do you think your golf cart or you would survive?

The county should start trimming the moss & inspecting for hazards--its more important than replacing pine straw.

My previous post #10 asked if you had brought this to the attention of FDOT, Sumter County or TV. Did you or is this the standard make a big proclamation and then do nothing about it?

[Dynsol]

WOW...In addition to having Cancer to worry about, many other diseases, lightning, hurricanes, bad food, murder, home break-ins, car accidents etc. , Now I have to worry about trees falling on me ...Whats next!

[Bogie Shooter]

WOW...In addition to having Cancer to worry about, many other diseases, lightning, hurricanes, bad food, murder, home break-ins, car accidents etc. , Now I have to worry about trees falling on me ...Whats next!

The sky.

[virgind]

If you paint them white that way you will see them better when they fall and get out of the way.

[asianthree]

Few years back a tree fell on two golf carts on the golf course in TV. There was a storm coming in when it happened

[Mleeja]

It's probably best to have an expert engineer conduct a study to document if, in fact, the accident/incident rate justifies the expenditure of funds toward this effort. Based on reported incidents, we may find that there is no safety issue whatsoever. It may boil down to those who can't survive a tree limb falling on them should just stay at home.:agree:

Please don't forget bicycles, walkers and rollerbladers use the MMPs as well. Any study of the overhanging trees on the paths must include this group as well. :beer3:

[yabbadu]

Maybe we should divert the cart path striping expense to pay for the study on tree limb accidents OR stripe the tree limbs so if they fall we can see them?

[Polar Bear]

Such a happy and positive topic. What a surprise.