Horrible drivers

[pdfortin]

OK, been here a little over 2.5 years and what we notice the most is the horrible drivers that LIVE IN THE VILLAGES !!! <Look>, it is very simple, you must look behind you, to the left, to the right , and yet again when driving your car OR golf cart. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY just because you are backing up from the mail box or anywhere else. If you are entering traffic oncoming, YOU need to stop. One of these days I will keep going and let you poor drivers hit me. It will not end well for you. This is from the Calumet area. For sure it is everywhere. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD!! Anyone else tired of these poor drivers thinking they own the street?

[Fredman]

Sounds like a bitter generalization

[Rango]

:popcorn:

[asianthree]

Try going out of the bubble, there are bad drivers everywhere you live. We drive our car 4,000 miles a year, when we work up north. In that 6 mile drive I can see the same amount of issues that you see in TV

[tophcfa]

There are lots of old people still driving that shouldn't be. It's a hard thing to give up.

[Jima64]

Sounds like you are around a lot of Cape Cod drivers.

[Laker14]

When I first got here a few years ago I was very nervous on the roundabouts. At one point someone blared the horn at me. I'm sure I was doing something wrong. Not sure what it was, at the time.
I'm used to them now, and know what I'm doing, but I am very careful about other drivers, knowing that some of them are certainly as clueless as I was a few years ago.
I was having this conversation with my wife just the other day, chauffeuring her and a friend, when on a roundabout I noticed a car in the outside lane ( I had the inside lane as I was going to take the third exit) looking a bit uncertain. When it came to the exit it should have taken, it didn't, meaning that I was lined up for my exit from the inside lane, and it was to my right in the outside lane and I was pretty sure it wasn't going to take the exit. I was right. I had slowed down so it could get ahead of me, and sure enough, it proceeded to take another lap around the track. I exited behind it.
The point being, a bit of patience and understanding is important. Most villagers were newbies once upon a time. Things go more smoothly and safely if we remember that and aren't impatient drivers. Especially on the roundabouts.

[Jdmiata]

Bad drivers are everywhere. We have more than our share as we have the older people. Many of which should not be driving.

[dougjb]

My first landlord in The Villages told me one thing that stuck with me. NEVER be in a hurry in the Villages. It will not end well if you do. Instead, always yield the right of way. Take your time. Breath deep. And Smile. This is a wonderful place to live and ...if you NEVER be in a hurry!

[djrudd]

Treat roundabouts like a red light. Yo cannot go left from the outside lane. You may go right or straight.

[Kgray0526]

Absolutely! It’s also ridiculous that turn signals, stop signs and yielding are optional!

[karostay]

Absolutely! It’s also ridiculous that turn signals, stop signs and yielding are optional!

Sure this post isn't talking about Villagers on bicycles

[TOMMY D]

The poor driving skills people have here are probably the same ones they had where ever they lived. Always tell my wife when driving to be prepared for stupid actions of others Learned this when only here the second week when on 301 we were t-boned and rear ended because of woman stopped dead in the middle of the road for paper. To make things even worse I pulled into the breakdown lane and put my flashers on. Three stupid actions in one day.:pray:

[IUFAN]

Oh yes, I travel on 441 a lot. People from right lane cut over 3 lanes barely missing others while attempting to get there to the turning lane.

[bmit16]

Its not limited to driving. They are just in their own world. I got hit 3 times yesterday in Walmart by people exiting an aisle pushing a basket blindly onto the end aisle. They just come barreling out full blast and hit me in the hip. 3 times, 3 different idiots.

[jbrewer70]

Golf carts are supposed to yield to cars when their lane ends , yet they will pull right out in front of a 3000 lb car. Bikers will hold up traffic because they have to ride in the middle of the lane rather than staying close to the curb. But the best one is , golf cart drivers park as close as the can to the drivers side of the car next to them , blocking the car driver to even get into their car. It’s happened to me twice. Unbelievable.

[dmarti1973]

I have been in insurance claims a long time. I am often amazed when the person making the accusations is really the person who is at fault. When people point a finger at others, they usually have 3 pointing back at themselves...

[Phil_Linda]

OK, been here a little over 2.5 years and what we notice the most is the horrible drivers that LIVE IN THE VILLAGES !!! <Look>, it is very simple, you must look behind you, to the left, to the right , and yet again when driving your car OR golf cart. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY just because you are backing up from the mail box or anywhere else. If you are entering traffic oncoming, YOU need to stop. One of these days I will keep going and let you poor drivers hit me. It will not end well for you. This is from the Calumet area. For sure it is everywhere. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD!! Anyone else tired of these poor drivers thinking they own the street?
One thing I have noticed over the years is if one is a huge complainer of "Other" drivers , just follow them a few miles and one may find they were not so GOOD either. Age old meme: "It is always the other guy"

[caljeff]

Or not!

[Eegee]

Also from up North and disagree with you. Never seen so many people disregard stop signs like I do here, especially on Wedgewood. I was almost broadsided a couple of weeks ago coming out of my subdivision, she acted like it was my fault. She had that big red sign I didn’t. Also witnessed a lot of driving the wrong way. So I disagree, worse here.

[Two Bills]

All these problems are because the USA drives on the wrong side of the road!

[toeser]

1) 75+% of the drivers here apparently have no clue what that thing sticking out the left side of their steering column is. It's a turn signal. Using it is a major courtesy to other drivers, pedestrians, etc. Please be more thoughtful in your driving.

2) I go for walks and bike rides virtually every day. 90% of the golf cart drivers are great, some could use some improvement, and 2% are horribly rude, incompetent, and dangerous. The two biggest problems I see are:

a) Not staying on their side of the trail. Nothing is worse than being on a bicycle going around a blind corner and coming head-to-head with a golf cart on the wrong side of the trail.

b) Passing on blind corners or curves, and passing waaaaaay too close. I have had carts pass me so close I could reach in and shake hands with the passenger. That is ridiculously dangerous and totally unnecessary.

You are retired. There is no place you have to be 10 seconds faster. Take the time to be safe.

[greenflash245]

it's not only the villages. it is everywhere. just be alert. expect them to be in the wrong and act accordingly

[toeser]

Golf carts are supposed to yield to cars when their lane ends , yet they will pull right out in front of a 3000 lb car. Bikers will hold up traffic because they have to ride in the middle of the lane rather than staying close to the curb. But the best one is , golf cart drivers park as close as the can to the drivers side of the car next to them , blocking the car driver to even get into their car. It’s happened to me twice. Unbelievable.

Do you know why bikers stay in the middle of the lane? Because if we ride on the edge, some of the reckless and uncaring golf cart drivers pass so close as to endanger our lives. If any carts get stuck behind me more than 10-15 seconds, I will find a place to pull off the trail if I can to let them pass. I used to ride on the edge of the trail until a few carts drivers almost got me killed. No more. We pay the same Association fees as you.

[024engine]

There were instructions on how to drive the roundabouts in the package you received when you came here. Read them. Not msny people have. There should be a requirement to attend a roundabout class before you settle on your house when moving here. No right turns. From the left lane, unless you are continuing on the main road, Morse or Buena Vista. Get it?

[msilagy]

Drive defensively at all times in your car and golf cart. Prepare for the worse and trust no drivers. Unfortunate stance but safer.

[Windguy]

Instead, always yield the right of way.
I’m OK with not being in a hurry, but yielding YOUR right of way is dangerous. A lot of people do it because they are trying to be nice, but it slows down traffic and can cause an accident.

When you try to yield your right of way, you are giving it to someone who doesn’t legally have it. If they wait for you to go when you should, now no one is going and everyone around gets frustrated with the delay. If both of you give up waiting for the other and go at the same time, an accident happens. And guess who gets the ticket. Not you. The other poor schmuck gets ticketed for not yielding the right of way.

A basic rule of life is “If you have the right of way, take it.”

[txfan]

Treat roundabouts like a red light. Yo cannot go left from the outside lane. You may go right or straight.

This may be the best, shortest, most concise explanation on how to “dance” in the roundabouts!

[Jmfltz13]

Why do the worst drivers believe they are the best drivers!

[Two Bills]

This may be the best, shortest, most concise explanation on how to “dance” in the roundabouts!

Actually they are just a junction. T or crossroad, and with same lane discipline.

[graciegirl]

Or not!

Many folks must have the last word on debates. Many of us are often impatient and yet many impatient people have grown up with mentors or parents who did not show irritation at other drivers and their learned behavior makes for calmer drivers and better choices.

I often wonder what good it does to get mad at other drivers. I often wonder WHY do some people just concentrate on keeping safe and careful driving and others grind their teeth, yell and pound the steering wheel and have a HISSY FIT.

You see, I doubt that a poster was rammed by a cart THREE times at the grocery in one day.

Many older people who have a drop in reaction time or other health issues have stopped driving at their own choice.

I so agree with the OP that we see a lot of bad and careless driving during the time when our population rises and we have a lot of people who are new to our area and not sure of where they are going. AND a rise in people who don't drive the rest of the year and a rise in people, PERIOD.

[starflyte1]

Also from up North and disagree with you. Never seen so many people disregard stop signs like I do here, especially on Wedgewood. I was almost broadsided a couple of weeks ago coming out of my subdivision, she acted like it was my fault. She had that big red sign I didn’t. Also witnessed a lot of driving the wrong way. So I disagree, worse here.

Wedge wood is dangerous. The street has cross streets that don’t have to stop. All should be 4 ways stops, IMHO.

[Velvet]

Oh yes, I travel on 441 a lot. People from right lane cut over 3 lanes barely missing others while attempting to get there to the turning lane.

About the worse design for turning I have seen. I know people will try to defend the traffic flow from all kinds of view points, but my husband who is a professional driver and drove all over (and was a driver trainer) yet had trouble on both the 441 and roundabouts. If he has trouble when he used to drive 16 hours a day, why wouldn’t other people?

Then you have new people who don’t know where they are going and older people who may have physical problems and you have a toxic driving situation!

[Chopiwaters]

An important roundabout rule: SIGNAL
If you are on the inside lane, you have to SIGNAL first, get into outside lane, then exit safely.**
PLEASE DON'T suddenly cut across the outside lane, and scare the h--- out of me !
**even if it means going around again...you're allowed to do that☺

[butch69]

My theory is when people move to the Villages they forget how to use their turn signals. Pretty basic, but true. Why, for example, when entering a roundabout and plan on turning left would you not use your turn signal?

[Barbkelly]

We've been here 20 years and the drivers are getting worse. Many years ago people waved at you to proceed rather than ignore other drivers. Could it be an age thing? Or is it those who haven't adapted to a slower life style? Oh! Don't get me started with fast golf cart drivers…the other day I was driving in a 20 mph zone and was passed by a cart going REALY Fast. I caught up with them on a 30 mph street and found him going almost 30 mph.

[Velvet]

My theory is when people move to the Villages they forget how to use their turn signals. Pretty basic, but true. Why, for example, when entering a roundabout and plan on turning left would you not use your turn signal?

Can’t see the signal because the car is turning. I look for it all the time and because of the angle of the car I can’t tell whether their signal is on or not. The radius is much too small for these roundabouts.

It’s not just bad drivers, it’s bad design. No one who has driven all their lives should be asked to get used to special driving skills.
Especially when there are no alternatives. No public transportation, no sidewalks to cross at. Very unsafe!

You can blame the drivers till the cows come home, but you are not going to get away from the unsafe traffic flow design.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Two simple rules for surviving roundabouts
1. Know and obey the protocols
2. Assume all others do not know and will not obey the protocols

[jswirs]

Well, as a bicyclist here I was almost killed once, and another time scared the crap out of me. I have ridden a bike in Manhattan and even in Rome, Italy. The Villages is by far, the most dangerous place I have ever ridden. I do believe it's due to less than competent drivers (because of age), and the amount of traffic in TV in the winter months. Someone has already said this: To survive here unharmed, you must be very patient along with being ever vigilant.

[Bogie Shooter]

An important roundabout rule: SIGNAL
If you are on the inside lane, you have to SIGNAL first, get into outside lane, then exit safely.**
PLEASE DON'T suddenly cut across the outside lane, and scare the h--- out of me !
**even if it means going around again...you're allowed to do that☺

Changing lanes in a roundabout is asking for trouble...……………..

[mainelovr]

I’ve been to all 50 states, and there is a decided difference in the way people drive from place to place. Put us all together, and it doesn’t always work well. Add to that, Villagers are on the decline in our driving abilities. No better place to practice defensive driving. I always try to go easy on slower drivers. They may be driving within their comfort level. With luck, we’ll all be able to drive well into our golden years. Patience is a virtue that will afford those who practice it a wealth of inner peace.

[VApeople]

If you are on the inside lane, you have to SIGNAL first, get into outside lane, then exit safely.

No you don't.


PLEASE DON'T suddenly cut across the outside lane, and scare the h--- out of me !


I do that all the time and I plan to keep doing it.

[graciegirl]

No you don't.



I do that all the time and I plan to keep doing it.

Holy Bowlegged Sarah.

[Polar Bear]

...PLEASE DON'T suddenly cut across the outside lane, and scare the h--- out of me !...
If you’re following one one of the basic rules of roundabout driving, that situation will not occur...

DO NOT DRIVE NEXT TO A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER ROUNDABOUT LANE.

Problem solved.

[Velvet]

If you’re following one one of the basic rules of roundabout driving, that situation will not occur...

DO NOT DRIVE NEXT TO A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER ROUNDABOUT LANE.

Problem solved.

Yes, very important, and also since sometimes I can’t see if a person is signaling I find it helpful if I watch the angle of the body of the car. It tends to indicate the direction the person is planning to go.

[JoMar]

No you don't.



I do that all the time and I plan to keep doing it.

There you go......do what you want to do, not what your should do....The Villages Way :)

[JoMar]

Can’t see the signal because the car is turning. I look for it all the time and because of the angle of the car I can’t tell whether their signal is on or not. The radius is much too small for these roundabouts.

It’s not just bad drivers, it’s bad design. No one who has driven all their lives should be asked to get used to special driving skills.
Especially when there are no alternatives. No public transportation, no sidewalks to cross at. Very unsafe!

You can blame the drivers till the cows come home, but you are not going to get away from the unsafe traffic flow design.

Unsafe flow design is an opinion. If you follow the rules they aren't unsafe. If you can't keep up with the skills necessary to drive here may be time to stop driving.....history doesn't give rights for the future. Roundabouts are all over this country and more are going in all the time.....I still make major trips on the roads around this country and I love where the put roundabouts......keeps traffic moving and if there is an accident it is usually non life threatening. Having said that, it will get worse here and more younger impatient drivers arrive.

[Davelinda91]

What do you expect when HaPpY hOuR starts at 11AM! By 6 or 7 o’clock I’m surprised they can even walk! I saw a car take a left turn out of Evans Prairie at 5 PM and end up on the golf cart path. He gave me a dirty 👀🤦🏼*♀️

[VApeople]

There you go......do what you want to do, not what your should do....The Villages Way :)

I follow the traffic rules.

If I need to go 3/4 of the way around a roundabout, I get in the left lane, go 3/4 of the way around, and then cut across the outside lane to exit.

According to the sign as I enter the roundabout, that is exactly how I am supposed to do it.

[Two Bills]

About the worse design for turning I have seen. I know people will try to defend the traffic flow from all kinds of view points, but my husband who is a professional driver and drove all over (and was a driver trainer) yet had trouble on both the 441 and roundabouts. If he has trouble when he used to drive 16 hours a day, why wouldn’t other people?

Then you have new people who don’t know where they are going and older people who may have physical problems and you have a toxic driving situation!

Sounds to me he was exhausted, and probably unfit to drive.

[VApeople]

Two simple rules for surviving roundabouts
1. Know and obey the protocols
2. Assume all others do not know and will not obey the protocols

You are exactly right!

[parchiba49]

"LIVE IN THE VILLAGES" - how do you know they all "live" here? Could be from anywhere, passing through? Anycase, breathe, it doesn't get better, so take the advice above pay attention and be careful.

[Velvet]

Or we could have lights put in instead of roundabouts. And even pedestrians could cross. Please tell me where in the world do you find roundabouts that are so tight?

[Topspinmo]

OK, been here a little over 2.5 years and what we notice the most is the horrible drivers that LIVE IN THE VILLAGES !!! <Look>, it is very simple, you must look behind you, to the left, to the right , and yet again when driving your car OR golf cart. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY just because you are backing up from the mail box or anywhere else. If you are entering traffic oncoming, YOU need to stop. One of these days I will keep going and let you poor drivers hit me. It will not end well for you. This is from the Calumet area. For sure it is everywhere. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD!! Anyone else tired of these poor drivers thinking they own the street?

Might as well get use to it (or get gone as someone says) it’s not going to get any better.

[Topspinmo]

Or we could have lights put in instead of roundabouts. And even pedestrians could cross. Please tell me where in the world do you find roundabouts that are so tight?

Why do you think they put in roundabout?? So there wouldn’t be traffic light to back up traffic. Speed limit 35 MPH up to roundabout about and 20 MPH in the roundabout. IMO inexperience drivers makes the roundabout dangerous, especially the ones that stop when nothing coming and stop when their in the roundabout and bout 50 more dangerous maneuver’s.

[Topspinmo]

An important roundabout rule: SIGNAL
If you are on the inside lane, you have to SIGNAL first, get into outside lane, then exit safely.**
PLEASE DON'T suddenly cut across the outside lane, and scare the h--- out of me !
**even if it means going around again...you're allowed to do that☺

You shouldn’t be beside him or on his bumper, you should of turned at the Right at the first or second exit or not enter the roundabout when traffic IN the roundabout.

[Topspinmo]

Changing lanes in a roundabout is asking for trouble...……………..

Unless there broken white lines. If the entered roundabout correctly nobody should be beside you or on you’re bumper.

[Laker14]

What do you expect when HaPpY hOuR starts at 11AM! By 6 or 7 o’clock I’m surprised they can even walk! I saw a car take a left turn out of Evans Prairie at 5 PM and end up on the golf cart path. He gave me a dirty ������������������*♀️

I have to admit, after driving nothing but the cart for a couple of weeks, I was driving my car out of the Burnsed Rec Center lot, following a cart. The cart turned onto the cart path, and for a moment, I thought of following it.

Also, after driving my car for a couple of days, I got into the cart, turned out of my neighborhood onto Odell, and for a few hundred feet drove my cart right down the middle of the car lane. Fortunately nobody was around to witness this.

My happy hour hadn't started yet, BTW. I've mentioned this to other people and they have confirmed that I'm not the only one who has had a moment of confusion. At least I haven't tried to take my car through the Colony tunnel. Yet.

[golfing eagles]

Unless there broken white lines. If the entered roundabout correctly nobody should be beside you or on you’re bumper.

That is correct. Nobody should enter a RB if there is a car coming in EITHER lane. But when you're on the inside lane, cars enter the outside lane right through the yield sign all the time. This is what sets up a problem, it's just another example of "me first" driving, like pulling out of a side street in front of you or racing a cart to the merge point.

[tsmall22204]

Well you can complain onTOTV and be a grumpy old person or you might consider taking a defensive driving course. You will get a discount on your insurance and learn to deal with your problem. YOU WILL NOT CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE'S BAD DRIVING HABITS.

[toeser]

Why do you think they put in roundabout?? So there wouldn’t be traffic light to back up traffic. Speed limit 35 MPH up to roundabout about and 20 MPH in the roundabout. IMO inexperience drivers makes the roundabout dangerous, especially the ones that stop when nothing coming and stop when their in the roundabout and bout 50 more dangerous maneuver’s.

Because they are cheaper for the city to maintain.

[Velvet]

Why do you think they put in roundabout?? So there wouldn’t be traffic light to back up traffic. Speed limit 35 MPH up to roundabout about and 20 MPH in the roundabout. IMO inexperience drivers makes the roundabout dangerous, especially the ones that stop when nothing coming and stop when their in the roundabout and bout 50 more dangerous maneuver’s.

Yes, I agree. You point out the result of poor design.

At the time the main streets were built they were built for a smaller population, lesser traffic and perhaps with no thought to what happens when you give NO alternatives to a population that ages. As TV expands and we see the unanticipated problems, there ought to be an organic response. Make adjustments, for the better. Don’t throw your hands up and say, oh, if you can no longer drive in this particular way, move!

Perhaps one can expand the number of lanes (our property taxes went up for a reason) or try to decentralize Lake Sumter Landing and any other place of congestion. But just blaming it on the inevitable is not going to help, in my opinion.

[mjc1145]

1. Drivers tend to be more inconsiderate every day all over the country.

2. Extra caution needed in circles. These are great at improving traffic flow, but most people do not understand that the driver to the left has the right of way. Super extra caution during Snowbird months, especially at the beginning of each month.

3. "Street worthy" golf carts driving on the main roads is ridiculous! Just because they can approach 35 mph with the pedal to the metal does not make them safe in car traffic. And seat belts don't make them safe...no crush zones, safety cage or airbags guarantees that they will lose in any fender bender collisions.

[VApeople]

I almost always use the outside lane when going thru a roundabout unless I am going 3/4 of the way around.

But when you're on the inside lane, cars enter the outside lane right through the yield sign all the time.

And I honk at them when they do that. And I keep honking until they stop.

If I am in the inside lane, then I am planning to cut across the outside lane to exit the roundabout and I need for the outside lane to be open.

However, if the person in the outside lane keeps going, then I keep honking, but I stop and let them go.

That happened to us when we were driving north on Morse and wanted to turn left onto Stillwater. I was going 3/4 of the way around the roundabout, but a driver going south on Morse in the outside lane did not stop for me. I stopped in the inside lane and kept honking at him, but he just drove on thru the roundabout. He probably did not even realize I was honking at him.

The next week I saw that happen to someone else at the same roundabout.

[Velvet]

Wow! Any civil engineers reading this?

[graciegirl]

Yes, I agree. You point out the result of poor design.

At the time the main streets were built they were built for a smaller population, lesser traffic and perhaps with no thought to what happens when you give NO alternatives to a population that ages. As TV expands and we see the unanticipated problems, there ought to be an organic response. Make adjustments, for the better. Don’t throw your hands up and say, oh, if you can no longer drive in this particular way, move!

Perhaps one can expand the number of lanes (our property taxes went up for a reason) or try to decentralize Lake Sumter Landing and any other place of congestion. But just blaming it on the inevitable is not going to help, in my opinion.

Or one can wait until the end of March when the population drops markedly in all of Florida.

The roundabouts have been here for more than a dozen years, as long as we have and have had RELATIVELY few accidents. Once mastered they do ease and facilitate the flow of traffic.

Change doesn't happen by popular demand or even unpopular demand in a CDD.

And to me, that is a good thing.

P.S. I am going now to look up "organic response".

[buzzy]

Here's another goof that has not been mentioned yet. Drivers who approach the roundabout in the right lane and put on their right signal just because they have to swing right to enter. Then they go past the first exit, with their signal still flashing, and take the second exit.

[Bogie Shooter]

Yes, I agree. You point out the result of poor design.

At the time the main streets were built they were built for a smaller population, lesser traffic and perhaps with no thought to what happens when you give NO alternatives to a population that ages. As TV expands and we see the unanticipated problems, there ought to be an organic response. Make adjustments, for the better. Don’t throw your hands up and say, oh, if you can no longer drive in this particular way, move!

Perhaps one can expand the number of lanes (our property taxes went up for a reason) or try to decentralize Lake Sumter Landing and any other place of congestion. But just blaming it on the inevitable is not going to help, in my opinion.

What does this mean??

[Out&Proud]

I've been here 18 years and know that you have to drive defensively in The Villages. It is apparent that with age some seniors think they can drive any way they want. I first observed this in my 82-year-old father when he would pull up in front of the grocery store and just leave his car there and go in to do his shopping! In addition, I have personally seen people die behind the wheel while driving a car and a golf cart in TV. Beware, keep your eyes open and be prepared for anything!

[Two Bills]

The whole of Europe, in fact most of the world cope quite easily with roundabouts, large and small, but in The Villages it's a major problem to many.

"Bad workmen blame their tools!"

[Velvet]

Gracie, LOL, “organic” is the way the Roman Catholic Church refers to a growing and adaptive faith. As civilizations change so should the church. (That’s the theory anyways.)

[Bay Kid]

Driving in Florida is no fun. I haven't had a car here for years. Slowly go wherever I need in my golf cart.

[Velvet]

Bogie, there are a lot of draws, for example, at Lake Sumter Landing, offices, banks, transport etc. I was thinking spread out the destinations so that there might be fewer people driving to them. Just a thought... it might not be practical.

[VApeople]

Here's another goof that has not been mentioned yet. Drivers who approach the roundabout in the right lane and put on their right signal just because they have to swing right to enter. Then they go past the first exit, with their signal still flashing, and take the second exit.

Why is that a problem for you?

Most of us ignore people's turn signals because it often does not correspond to what the people are actually going to do.

[Polar Bear]

Wow! Any civil engineers reading this?
Yes. Transportation/traffic engineer as a matter of fact. :)

[njbchbum]

"LIVE IN THE VILLAGES" - how do you know they all "live" here? Could be from anywhere, passing through? Anycase, breathe, it doesn't get better, so take the advice above pay attention and be careful.

My thoughts exactly! The folks at the mail stations are probably Villagers - but - the rest of the folks on the roads - LOL! I hate driving the speed limit in my correct lane and having some late-for-work employee honking at me to go faster because they can't get into the backed up passing lane! And I know they are employees because they are young and wearing their uniform shirt - they aren't the bag boys at the grocery stores! It's so convenient to blame the old folks! HAHAHAHA

[njbchbum]

I've been here 18 years and know that you have to drive defensively in The Villages. It is apparent that with age some seniors think they can drive any way they want. I first observed this in my 82-year-old father when he would pull up in front of the grocery store and just leave his car there and go in to do his shopping! In addition, I have personally seen people die behind the wheel while driving a car and a golf cart in TV. Beware, keep your eyes open and be prepared for anything!

Do you not drive defensively anywhere except in the Villages? lol I have been driving defensively since I got my license over 50 years ago! And you think that only "with age some seniors think they can drive any way they want"? lol You need to get out and around and compete with the young'uns who think seniors don't know anything and don't deserve to be on the same roads with them!

[Bogie Shooter]

Bogie, there are a lot of draws, for example, at Lake Sumter Landing, offices, banks, transport etc. I was thinking spread out the destinations so that there might be fewer people driving to them. Just a thought... it might not be practical.

That's an understatement.

[prntxpresn]

At roundabouts when in left hand lane, wait for car next to you to go first so as not to be cut off when they make the third left -- or -- speed up so they're not next to you. I consider this Paradise having moved from NY. The Bubble events are a mere 15-45 minute drive. And those who complain about snowbird traffic should realize almost all of us are retired and don't need to be in a rush. For me, I need an extra 15 minutes to get where I'm going and I live w/gratitude for the 88% positives.

[Rick McDowell]

Here in T.V. 18 months, and I would say driving is something of an adventure. Lots of people curse the snowbirds or visitors who are either oblivious or ignoring the roundabout rules.

Don't use your turn signal in a roundabout. Do not be in the right lane entering the roundabout if you intend to exit left, and do not be in the left lane if you intend to exit right. Do not enter the roundabout thinking you can beat the guy already in the roundabout to the next bend, especially if you are not good at judging speed, as most here are not.

Mainly, don't drift into the other lane in a roundabout and think its the other guys fault, somehow.

I really caution all my visitors coming here that it's not just the rules of the roundabouts, but it is also the golf carts and cyclists, the golf cart lane is narrow and the carts seem to often drift into the car lane when you go by them. It was bad enough in a city that people were on their cell phones on a commute, but why when a drive in The Villages is going to be likely less than 10 minutes, does someone have to be on their phone and then drift into another lane? Visitors also are not expecting the cart merging areas.

Biggest complaint is SUV drivers crossing over the yellow line into incoming traffic, so 70+ mile an hour head on collision to not be close to a golf cart they are passing.

Then just my observation, although I can see another point of view: many drivers just never see much more than the car in front of them, so it would seem to me it is easy to look slightly to the left when entering a roundabout to know if someone is coming, but many drivers just stop even if no one is in sight, and then look to their left, and then think about whether they can go.

Yes, some are in no hurry at all, while some are actually trying to get some place. Just pay attention when driving and let that be your full focus.

Second pet peeve: why do so many people stay in their cars in parking lots with their engines on, looking at their phones, then five minutes later you come back to your car and back up, and that's their cue to now back up to get out before you. Normally a big hint about being to be able to back up safely is you see if someone else just got into their car near you. With all these people sitting in their cars you can't tell when they are going to leave.