Research Underway for Golf Cart Tunnel Project

[TOTV Specialist]

In recent news, the Project Wide Advisory Committee is researching potential costs for a new pilot project that aims to reduce the number of golf cart related accidents at tunnels in The Villages. The idea for the project was originally introduced by Development District 6 Supervisor Tom Griffith whose call for action was echoed by Amenity Authority Committee member John Wilcox, among others.

Based on data from the Villages Homeowners Advocates, nearly 80 percent of golf cart crashes are occuring at tunnels in The Villages. One factor contributing to these accidents may be poor lighting in the tunnels, which affects drivers visibility. Community Development District 7 Supervisor, Mark Gallo, discussed with us how the pilot project would be implemented in steps to monitor costs,

“It will start with white washing the tunnels and the new LED lights for night. If that is not good enough, the tunnels will be painted with a reflective paint similar to vehicle tunnels which reflect light to brighten it. Then if that is still not deemed good, the lights will be 24/7. So you see we are also trying to keep cost in mind to get best bang for buck and safety!”

Although this project tackles tunnel lighting, driver error is another reason for a high rate of tunnel related accidents. Gallo, who has experience teaching golf cart safety courses noticed a common trend with tunnel related accidents, “The problem stems from both speed and not using the provided mirrors at the tunnels which allow drivers to see before they both enter/exit so they don't enter blindly. Most enter way to fast cause they don't slow down to look...”

As research for the pilot project continues, drivers are reminded to practice caution when approaching tunnels, and encouraged to attend golf cart safety courses offered throughout The Villages.

Photo Credit: Don Baird

[villagetinker]

Sounds like a great application for the dreaded speed bumps.
Please do not beat me up too bad!

[JC419]

I agree. I think many of the accidents occur because drivers do not stop at stop signs etc. Gol carts are not toys but many drive them as if they are and do not follow traffic rules. Speed bumps are a cost effective solution.

[golf2140]

Can the number of accidents be supplied to us. So a discussion can be held

[CWGUY]

I agree. I think many of the accidents occur because drivers do not stop at stop signs etc. Gol carts are not toys but many drive them as if they are and do not follow traffic rules. Speed bumps are a cost effective solution.

:thumbup: I agree! Yet we are taking them out and trying to figure out ways of to lower the number of golf cart accidents??? :loco:

[blueash]

that accidents happen more frequently at tunnels is absolutely not evidence that visibility inside the tunnel is a remedy. Tunnels represent the only situation where a golf cart has to yield to a golf cart excepting the rare golf cart circle. Only if the accidents are occurring within the tunnel itself should money be spent to improving lighting within, unless the goal is simply to brighten the interior of the tunnel which may be worthy on its own merits. So CCD and PWAC please give us the data on accidents inside the tunnel not data on accidents near the tunnel.

[Altavia]

Tunnel lighting is tricky, especially for this pre-cataract age group where glare could make things worse if not properly designed.

Tunnel-lighting checklist: A to-do list for professionals in the field | Philips Lighting (http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/support/connect/lighting-technology/lighting-design-and-quality/tunnel-lighting-checklist)

[billethkid]

Bring back the speed bumps.
I would like to know what the supervisors know that concludes the problem is low visibility.

As a prior post suggests. How about some numbers? Incident reports? All tunnels? Some tunnels?

I for one want to know the criteria that led to low visibility as the cause in the tunnels!

Let us not allow the spending of big dollars without justification.

In my humble opinion the problem is driver recklessness. How many gate arms are down weekly/monthly?

The biggest contributor is the pedal to the metal driving attitude and not slowing down either appropriately and in too many cases not at all.

Coming from one who walks the MMP every day and has been for the past 15 years. 15 years observation/conclusion; overwhelmingly too many driving too fast for conditions!!!!!

[Fishers2tall]

Having visited TV for the first time this past April I believe part of the problem can be traced to men (and women too) who have played plenty of golf. We have driven hundreds or even thousands of different golf carts and have never even come close to having an accident in a cart. The thing is every cart we have ever used is much much slower than TV golf carts! I would guess on any given course here in Indiana the golf carts have a governor that keeps the top speed between 6 and 10 mph. Just about all the carts in TV go twice that speed and it does take a little time to adjust. If you are like me you get there and you’re all excited to check everything out and have a great time driving around in the golf cart that is supplied for every lifestyle preview visit. You just don’t realize how fast you’re going! The first day of my visit I was tooling down a ramp leading into a tunnel that had a 90 degree turn at the bottom and I had to lock up the brakes to make the turn. I quickly realized I needed to slow down considerably which I did. Fortunately nobody was coming out of the tunnel when that happened or I might have had an accident.

[skip0358]

Don't think the problem lies within the tunnel either. The visibility at the exit & entrance of the tunnel is the issue. In coming drivers cutting across the lane for exiting, bushes blocking the clear vision when leaving the tunnel and not being able to clearly see carts already on the path when leaving the tunnels are more the problem. At night maybe a light on the outside wall abe the tunnel top curve would be a good idea.

[thelegges]

I will agree lighting would help, but everyone knows what their cart speed is, and the cornering effect.

You can’t fix stupid, and I drive better than all, and am not the problem in the tunnel when I enter at excessive speed.

[Taltarzac725]

Some of the tunnels need extensive remaking like the one under Buena Vista near Saddlebrook Recreational Center. Too narrow and not high enough. I fell like I have to duck my head every time I go into this one. Just a reaction to how low the ceiling of the tunnel is and my guess is that some golf carts are too high to use that tunnel.

[billethkid]

How is it these same tunnels have worked effectively for the past 15-20 years?

[Marathon Man]

Sounds like a great application for the dreaded speed bumps.
Please do not beat me up too bad!

No worries from me. It is the one place that I think small speed bumps is a good idea. Just high enough to get certain drivers to slow down without jarring the rest of us too badly.

[Fredster]

From what I’ve seen and experienced,
people turn into tunnels to fast,
and often times will even drive right over the stop line in the opposite lane.
One time I came close to an accident, it was when another cart didn’t quite stop
when exiting the tunnel when I was about to pass the tunnel entrance.
I see improvement in lighting inside the tunnels as nice, but I don’t feel it’s a big factor in accidents

[jedalton]

I would be willing to bet alcohol is the major cause. Been here since 2005 and never had trouble seeing in the tunnels.

[Navy (SSBN 633)]

would like to see the data used to support most accidents occur in and around tunnels.....from reading daily accidents reports with golf carts....tunnels are NOT the culprit.

[B-flat]

I would be willing to bet alcohol is the major cause. Been here since 2005 and never had trouble seeing in the tunnels.

I’ll buy that one!!

[Taltarzac725]

Probably because of the increased use of the tunnels by a ever growing population. And many of these are quite new users of golf carts and some even of any kind of motorized vehicle like a golf cart.

[Number 10 GI]

The majority of accidents of all kinds are caused by human error. How does painting a tunnel and adding lights eliminate human error?

[rjm1cc]

I think I would start out with speed bumps.

[Villagevip]

Thinking, most of the accidents occur, when the drivers of gas operated carts try revving up the engines..This, to hear the sweet sound, of the high pitch Yamaha one cylinder engine bounce off the the tunnel walls..

[thevillagernie]

I think the accidents are from poor vision and not the tunnel... Bad vision is so bad hear we have clubs for it.

[Bay Kid]

No speed bumps please. Hard on the back. Lights would help. Other than that defensive driving.

[JoelJohnson]

The majority of accidents of all kinds are caused by human error. How does painting a tunnel and adding lights eliminate human error?

Yes, you can't fix stupid.

[CWGUY]

No speed bumps please. Hard on the back. Lights would help. Other than that defensive driving.

:what: How are speed bumps hard on the back if you SLOW DOWN for them? :confused:

[danliz]

Why not paint the tunnels with that special white fluorescent paint I’ve seen it on Pinterest... it will help light up the tunnels without putting in electricity!

[dennisgavin]

When coming from bright sun and also maybe wearing sunglasses the change going into the tunnel can be quite dramatic. My close calls have been with walkers exiting the tunnel in the same lane I am entering. That is coming at me. Very dangerous. I think brightening the tunnels is a good idea. I also think people walking in them is problematic. I know that there is a school of thought that you should walk looking into approaching traffic but that can be dangerous at the tunnel entrance when carts are approaching making a 90 degree turn into the tunnel which is much darker than the outside.

[Microcodeboy]

Best would be for everyone to SLOW DOWN! What is the big hurry anyway. We are mostly retired, going to recreational activities. We need to be in a hurry for that? I drive the paths and run/walk them in the morning and never had a close call. I am the guy who makes people mad because I STOP FOR ALL STOP SIGNS, do not feel compelled to drive at the speed limit all the time (actually I rarely go over 18 mph and am amazed at how many carts pass me going way over 20 mph!) I think we need a way to weed out the pathetic speed nuts. Too bad it is such a free-for-all! Oh, and when I walk, I step off the paved part for the moment golf carts pass me (want to live a long time and golf carts are mostly bigger than I am). Problem is the nuts behind the wheels!!

[bdescalzi]

I agree with skip0358. People exiting tunnels should stop at the stop sign. Many drivers do not plan to stop and end up pulling into the MMP and panic stops occur. Clearing some bushes and better signage would help.

[haysus7]

The majority of accidents of all kinds are caused by human error. How does painting a tunnel and adding lights eliminate human error?

My transition lenses stay dark and lighting would help. BTW my driving is too slow for most and am passed by all the time. What’s the hurry? We are retired.

[Two Bills]

:what: How are speed bumps hard on the back if you SLOW DOWN for them? :confused:

How dare you suggest anyone should slow down.
Ye Gods! You will be wanting us to stop at Stop signs next!

[Tall4mom]

I believe all the efforts to light and paint the tunnels is unwarranted. To me golf cart speeding when going into and out of the tunnels is the biggest problem. Cutting corners to turn into the tunnels is dangerous and done frequently. When we first moved to The Villages riding in a golf cart was a leisurely means of travel. In recent years the maximum allowable speed is ignored...I travel Belvedere frequently in a golf cart and am passed as though I am standing still almost every trip. Golf carts are spending everywhere.

[Bobobrien]

In recent news, the Project Wide Advisory Committee is researching potential costs for a new pilot project that aims to reduce the number of golf cart related accidents at tunnels in The Villages. The idea for the project was originally introduced by Development District 6 Supervisor Tom Griffith whose call for action was echoed by Amenity Authority Committee member John Wilcox, among others.

Based on data from the Villages Homeowners Advocates, nearly 80 percent of golf cart crashes are occuring at tunnels in The Villages. One factor contributing to these accidents may be poor lighting in the tunnels, which affects drivers visibility. Community Development District 7 Supervisor, Mark Gallo, discussed with us how the pilot project would be implemented in steps to monitor costs,

“It will start with white washing the tunnels and the new LED lights for night. If that is not good enough, the tunnels will be painted with a reflective paint similar to vehicle tunnels which reflect light to brighten it. Then if that is still not deemed good, the lights will be 24/7. So you see we are also trying to keep cost in mind to get best bang for buck and safety!”

Although this project tackles tunnel lighting, driver error is another reason for a high rate of tunnel related accidents. Gallo, who has experience teaching golf cart safety courses noticed a common trend with tunnel related accidents, “The problem stems from both speed and not using the provided mirrors at the tunnels which allow drivers to see before they both enter/exit so they don't enter blindly. Most enter way to fast cause they don't slow down to look...”

As research for the pilot project continues, drivers are reminded to practice caution when approaching tunnels, and encouraged to attend golf cart safety courses offered throughout The Villages.

Photo Credit: Don Baird
Mirrors should be cleaned periodically. The tunnel mirror at Morse and Moyer is hard to use.

[Henryk]

I believe the problem is entirely on drivers. They don’t stop for stop signs. God forbid they should use directional signals (even more so in automobiles!). They defeat the vehicle’s governor and travel faster than is safe. They tailgate. Why is everyone in such a damned hurry??

[ldj1938]

Sounds like a great application for the dreaded speed bumps.
Please do not beat me up too bad!

Please not another bunch of speed bumps. Why does everyone have to endure more to slow down a few unthinking dummies? One problem I’ve seen is almost running into walkers in the dark because of darkness and the pathetic lights on golf carts in the tunnels. They usually plaster themselves to the wall to avoid being hit.

[NatureBoy]

The first day of my visit I was tooling down a ramp leading into a tunnel that had a 90 degree turn at the bottom and I had to lock up the brakes to make the turn.
Same. We did a Lifestyle tour a few weeks ago. I was surprised at the 90 degree turns at the bottom of ramps. Add in rain-slick pavement and you have a recipe for disaster.
I'd also be interested in statistics breaking out accidents IN the tunnels vs at the entrances/exits.

And I find the proposed solution odd: First, we'll do this cheap thing. If people still get hurt/killed we'll do this slightly more expensive thing. If people are still biting it we'll spend some more money.
How about 1) Studying the problem well enough to know whether lighting IN the tunnels is the problem, and 2) Doing the thing that will improve safety the most.

My uninformed and uneducated guess is that the problem will be shown to be excessive speed when entering & exiting the tunnels, causing people to crash at either end. And the speed may be contributed to by poor visibility so people can't tell they need to slow down to negotiate with other carts coming the other way.

[Altavia]

:agree:

[Jerrysherry]

They need to do something about the Dark Tunnels, but some of these Golf Carts speeds are set too fast. I was sitting in The Village Golf Cart store & I heard the sales person tell a couple that Club Cars are set to do 25 miles ! That"s Too Fast

[Bogie Shooter]

Your ideas should be passed along to the people mentioned in the OP. Will be more effective than posting here.


Ann Forrester (District 2) Chair
ann.forrester@districtgov.org
352-259-3339
John Wilcox (District 3) Vice Chair
john.wilcox@districtgov.org
352-259-1716
IV Chandler (VCCDD)
iv.chandler@districtgov.org
352-753-6790
Carl Bell (District 1)
carl.bell@districtgov.org
352-750-1251
Don Deakin (District 4)
don.deakin@districtgov.org
352-750-5395
Lowell Barker (Lady Lake/Lake County)
lowell.barker@districtgov.org
352-205-8140

Tom Griffith
tom.griffith@districtgov.org

[biker1]

Yes, that is not all that unusual. I believe a majority of the contemporary golf carts will do in excess of 20 mph.

They need to do something about the Dark Tunnels, but some of these Golf Carts speeds are set too fast. I was sitting in The Village Golf Cart store & I heard the sales person tell a couple that Club Cars are set to do 25 miles ! That"s Too Fast

[CWGUY]

Yes, that is not all that unusual. I believe a majority of the contemporary golf carts will do in excess of 20 mph.

:oops: And the people doing in excess of 20 mph in them probably have cars that will do in excess of 100 mph. :shocked:

[BostonRich]

Wait. Are there actually a lot accidents inside the tunnels? I got a feeling they are just outside in the intersections and on the sharp curves at the entrances. Lights aren't going to do a thing except waste our money.

[Bogie Shooter]

The AAC has a lot of money from the lawsuit......and they love to spend.

[B-flat]

They need to do something about the Dark Tunnels, but some of these Golf Carts speeds are set too fast. I was sitting in The Village Golf Cart store & I heard the sales person tell a couple that Club Cars are set to do 25 miles ! That"s Too Fast

We have a Club Car and it can get up to 28 miles per hour........we NEVER drive at that speed. We keep it between 18 to 20 mph, we also drive defensively i.e. “watch out for the other guy.” We may be overly cautious and don’t usually drive in the dark. A bonus we don’t drink and drive even a golf cart.

[windylou]

Personally I see no problem with lighting in the tunnels .. but I do see LOTS of drivers going into the tunnels much too fast.
What a waste to use lighting when most of the problem is from the drivers carelessness.

[villagetinker]

I would suggest taking the a couple of the "worst offending tunnels" and installing speed bumps to slow down the drivers, and observe the results. After reading many of the above comments, I really think the first step is to slow down the golf cart drivers, and unfortunately, speed bumps appears to be the only way to do this.
I will also suggest that these be installed in a manner that they cannot be avoided, say by going in the opposing lane of traffic, etc., so these would probably have to extend across the entire cart path. Of course these should be suitable marked so it is obvious that the speed bumps have been installed.

[BostonRich]

Absolutely hate speed bumps,

[CWGUY]

Absolutely hate speed bumps,

:icon_wink: Yeah me too! They slow you down! :boom:

[biker1]

I believe all cars will do in excess of 100 mph except for Smart cars.

:oops: And the people doing in excess of 20 mph in them probably have cars that will do in excess of 100 mph. :shocked:

[ColdNoMore]

:oops: And the people doing in excess of 20 mph in them probably have cars that will do in excess of 100 mph. :shocked:

The obvious difference of course, is that there isn't a law restricting those vehicles...to 100mph or less. :oops:


:ho:

[biker1]

How do you know it will do 28 mph if you never drive at that speed ;-)

We have a Club Car and it can get up to 28 miles per hour........we NEVER drive at that speed. We keep it between 18 to 20 mph, we also drive defensively i.e. “watch out for the other guy.” We may be overly cautious and don’t usually drive in the dark. A bonus we don’t drink and drive even a golf cart.

[Ladygolfer93]

I support all efforts 100%, one life is worth any cost. However, the reply above from "Skip" comes closer to the problem than any of the conclusions of the study group concerning lighting IN the tunnels and painting them (again, I support this, not panning it). I believe it will be interesting to see exactly how each of these steps affects the desired outcome; NO deaths or injuries. However, I am most curious about the relationship between alcohol and consumption of other drugs, but especially alcohol, along with the totally reckless driving you see each and every day here (much increased in the winters when the population swells of course), and the number of serious "accidents". Attempting to "beat" another cart to the tunnel entrance is common at the tunnels near Miona Rec center and the tunnel past Arnold Palmer club as you go toward village of Bonnybrook entrance. I strongly suspect these variables (alcohol, effects of other drugs legal and illegal on mental state, and just plain reckless driving habits) are actually what results in the highest percentage of these "accidents". But no need to be hateful in your replies, I repeat, I support ANY and ALL efforts to make our community safe for everyone. We have far too many people who "must win" the golf cart path "race".

[pjwenz]

So it is really great that all you people have these opinions, and they are all very good, but none of you and I mean all of you never show up to your CDD meeting, or the PWAC meetings!! Only when you want to keep your lawn ornaments. Voice your opinion in person, not behind a blog post!

[ditka41]

As much as speed bumps are generally disliked, they are likely the most effective solution at this time. Last week, I was actually honked at for stopping at the designated line exiting a tunnel! Many of the ;tunnel entrance /exit turns are so tight you nearly have to pull into possible traffic to see what's there. Some people are even oblivious to the mirrors that are in place for a good reason. Just like ignoring stop signs on streets and swinging wide at street intersections, these same folks shouldn't be driving golf carts either. So, if you don't like to feel the speed bumps, too bad. That's better than being run over. Possibly better lighting at entrance / exit points would be a small help, but how many accidents involve carts hitting the walls of the tunnel? Lighting inside the tunnel does not need improvement, but better driving habits would certainly reduce accidents, and speed bumps should have a positive impact on our "entitled" citizens.

[eyc234]

Simple fix, just slow down, stop at stop signs, put down your phone, do not drink so much you can not drive and if you can not see in the tunnel pay $50 to get additional lights on your cart at your cost, not mine. This is beginning to sound like many others in todays society that want to blame everything on someone or something else and not take responsibility for their actions. There are consequences for your actions and the consequence for these bad actions can be life changing in a bad way. The worst parts of these accidents are if there are other victims of these peoples irresponsibility and lack of caring.

[ColdNoMore]

I personally find it strange, that the stated goal is "research" and yet one of the Supervisors has seemed to already determine that one of the issues is lighting inside the tunnels and is wanting to spend money on it...before it's even established that this is an actual issue. :oops:

Common sense (and about 45 years of performing root cause analysis on incidents/accidents/injuries) says that you do the research first, eliminate any confirmation bias and/or personal opinions, then evaluate the actual facts...to establish the root cause(s) of these accidents/incidents.

I'm just guessing (since I haven't seen any underlying data), but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the lighting in the tunnel has had little more than an ancillary association...to the majority of accidents.

On an anecdotal level, the problems I've seen negotiating certain tunnels are primarily due to;

1. Excessive speed (particularly when making a 90 degree turn).
2. Not stopping at the stop line.
3. Cutting the corners and not staying in the proper lane when entering/exiting the tunnel (excessive speed a contributory factor).

But even these anecdotal observations need actual statistics/facts...for actual confirmation. :ohdear:

[charmed59]

What may help is adding ridges to improve traction on the down slopes into the tunnels. When they are wet tires can slide. I’m wondering if they were to go back and correlate the accidents to rain if they would find the wet slopes contribute.

[ColdNoMore]

What may help is adding ridges to improve traction on the down slopes into the tunnels. When they are wet tires can slide. I’m wondering if they were to go back and correlate the accidents to rain if they would find the wet slopes contribute.

Good point and another reason for looking at and taking into account...ALL of the facts. :thumbup:

As a confession, I too have locked them up on wet conditions.

To be perfectly honest though, it was primarily because I was obviously...going too fast. :p

[donlocal134]

the main problem is speed. you don't have to do 20mph in the tunnel. if there is a person walking or biking, stay behind them till you are clear of the tunnel. my cart only does 20-22mph , and its the slowest one in the villages. I am passed by carts going 25-30 many times a day. don meisinger

[anothersteve]

A speed bump, one cart length or a little better, from each of the entrances and exits of all tunnels?
Steve