Accident on BV

[Midge538]

2:45 P.M today ... Friday: On the southwest corner of #466 & BV, two or three cars were showing quite a bit of heavy damage. Emergency and fire units were attending.

[cherylncliff]

This is at least the 4th accident cited here on TOTV in the last couple of days! :22yikes: Let's be careful out there! Just goes to show that TV is not immune to inattentive drivers, etc. As I continue to tell even my grown children - "It's not you I'm concerned about it's the OTHER driver!"

[Bogie Shooter]

Watch that intersection for red light runners.

[downeaster]

Watch that intersection for red light runners.

I use that intersection a lot and agree with Bogies comment. It seems to be a favorite intersection for red light runners.

[golf2140]

The first thing you must do within TV and all of Florida, learn defensive driving. While coming to a intersection, do not think the car facing you will do what his signal is telling you. They will turn the opposite direction. Just take your time and enjoy the beautiful landscape. There is no where in this great country where the road ways are so well kept with the plantings and cleaning like TV.

[Pturner]

While coming to a intersection, do not think the car facing you will do what his signal is telling you. They will turn the opposite direction.

Wow, you've actually witnessed peeps using turn signals! :a040:

[Mikeod]

Wow, you've actually witnessed peeps using turn signals! :a040:
Yup, they're the ones in the golf cart with the signal blinking for the last 2 miles. You know, the ones with the right blinker on that turn left?:D

[tom60]

After reading all of the accident reports i am beginning to wonder if there is not some kind of traffic signal problem at 466 and buena vista. About two weeks ago i was at the lite. I was facing eastbound and was going to make a left hand turn on to north bound buena vista. There is a turn lane and a green arrow when its your time to turn north. So i was in the left turn lane and the arrow turned green so i took off. Well the guy that was westbound took off also and almost drove into the passanger side of my car. Now i am wondering if i had a left turn green arrow why did this guy take off unless he also had a green lite. Everyone better watch this intersection. I think there is a serious problem with the traffic signals. That would explain why so many accidents lately. Has anyone else had traffic signal problems there lately.

[downeaster]

. Now i am wondering if i had a left turn green arrow why did this guy take off unless he also had a green lite.

If I read this right you were in the dedicated left turn lane and he was facing you in the dedicated left turn lane.

I believe there are too many safeguards in traffic control systems for it to be a control malfunction.

If he was intending to proceed straight then he was in the wrong lane. When the light turned to green arrow in his lane he figured he could dart across, intimidate oncoming traffic, and go on his merry way. And that is what he did and he got away with it.

And therein lies the problem. Driver arrogance, ignorance and downright stupidity.

The only good to come out of it was you escaped unscathed.

[graciegirl]

If I read this right you were in the dedicated left turn lane and he was facing you in the dedicated left turn lane.

I believe there are too many safeguards in traffic control systems for it to be a control malfunction.

If he was intending to proceed straight then he was in the wrong lane. When the light turned to green arrow in his lane he figured he could dart across, intimidate oncoming traffic, and go on his merry way. And that is what he did and he got away with it.

And therein lies the problem. Driver arrogance, ignorance and downright stupidity.

The only good to come out of it was you escaped unscathed.

I agree with you. Driving down here is BAD!:rant-rave: Watch out for the other guy...Don't like to hear of all these accidents!

[Russ_Boston]

I'd be curious to know how many accidents occur in other cities that have 80K drivers? I would think it would be high.

Does anyone think TV should be different?

Remember this: If a 'normal' town has 80K people at least 1/3 to 1/2 would be under driving age. 80-100K drivers is a BIG town!

[tom60]

I was in a dedicated turn lane . The guy facing me was not in a turn lane he was going straight west. I took off as soon as i got the turn arrow and was just ahead of the other guy just enough so i cleared the intersection before he got in the middle of it. It was scarey.

[dominick]

My wife and I have a never-ending dispute concerning this intersection (Buena Vista and 466)
I'll be on BV northbound about to turn left onto 466, in the correct lane, with a green traffic light (not the green arrow). There will be oncoming southbound traffic on BV,crossing 466. Instead of stopping at the light and waiting for the traffic to clear before turning, I pull out into the intersection, about halfway across, but not far enough to impede cars heading southbound on BV and turning left onto 466. When the traffic clears, I make the left onto 466. Sometimes the traffic doesn't clear until the light changes and the southbound cars on BV are forced to stop, at which time I make the turn. Many times, this practice prevents me from sitting at the light and waiting for another complete cycle to pass.
I've been doing this for 50 years of driving in about 8 states and have never been stopped or ticketed. I consider it to be an accepted driving practice. My wife insists that this is an illegal practice and that I should wait at the light until the traffic clears before turning. Any opinions or comments?? I won't tell my wife if I'm wrong. lol

[Pturner]

I was in a dedicated turn lane . The guy facing me was not in a turn lane he was going straight west. I took off as soon as i got the turn arrow and was just ahead of the other guy just enough so i cleared the intersection before he got in the middle of it. It was scarey.

Hi Tom,
I doubt the signal malfunctioned. It's more likely that the guy saw you take off and just jumped the gun, thinking the light must have changed. In a hurry and ... what Downeaster said.

Glad you weren't hit! It's another good reminder that we all need to drive defensively.

[Bogie Shooter]

I'd be curious to know how many accidents occur in other cities that have 80K drivers? I would think it would be high.

Does anyone think TV should be different?

Remember this: If a 'normal' town has 80K people at least 1/3 to 1/2 would be under driving age. 80-100K drivers is a BIG town!

I agree, we are burning way too many calories on talking and worrying about these accidents. When leaving your garage, just watch how the other guy/gal is driving.

[golfnut]

dominick, i agree with u, i have always pulled into the middle of the intersection waiting to turn left, for some reason i see a lot of drivers here wait at the beginninig of the intersection to wait until it's clear, can't imagine why....gn

[zcaveman]

dominick, i agree with u, i have always pulled into the middle of the intersection waiting to turn left, for some reason i see a lot of drivers here wait at the beginninig of the intersection to wait until it's clear, can't imagine why....gn

I agree also. Add me to the list.

[iandwk]

My wife and I have a never-ending dispute concerning this intersection (Buena Vista and 466)
I'll be on BV northbound about to turn left onto 466, in the correct lane, with a green traffic light (not the green arrow). There will be oncoming southbound traffic on BV,crossing 466. Instead of stopping at the light and waiting for the traffic to clear before turning, I pull out into the intersection, about halfway across, but not far enough to impede cars heading southbound on BV and turning left onto 466. When the traffic clears, I make the left onto 466. Sometimes the traffic doesn't clear until the light changes and the southbound cars on BV are forced to stop, at which time I make the turn. Many times, this practice prevents me from sitting at the light and waiting for another complete cycle to pass.
I've been doing this for 50 years of driving in about 8 states and have never been stopped or ticketed. I consider it to be an accepted driving practice. My wife insists that this is an illegal practice and that I should wait at the light until the traffic clears before turning. Any opinions or comments?? I won't tell my wife if I'm wrong. lol

I've seen signs at intersections that state: "Unlawful To Block Intersection."
Does this describe what you're talking about? I always assumed that it was to stop drivers from doing what you describe, but I do it all the time, and, like you, have never gotten a ticket. If you don't, you may have to wait several cycles of the light at some intersections.

[golfnut]

if you've ever driven in New York City what u describe is also known as Do Not block the Box, this means do not pull into an intersection that is already full of cars where u may not be able to clear intersection when signal turns red, different from pulling into an intersection on a green light to turn left where traffic is freely flowing...gn

[barb1191]

I agree with you. Driving down here is BAD!:rant-rave: Watch out for the other guy...Don't like to hear of all these accidents!

It has often crossed my mind that....

if there were no golf-carts or golf-cart paths, can you imagine what the roads would be like with such heavy traffic here in TV? Thank goodness for the golf-cart drivers on their own paths.....b

[Pturner]

I pull up for a left turn too, Dominick.

[barb1191]

I pull up for a left turn too, Dominick.

So would I; makes sense to clear the traffic buildup.

[peaches]

My mother once got a ticket, in Michigan, for sitting at the light and then turning when the light changed. The officer told her she ran a red light and that she should have moved up under the light until traffic cleared or was stopped and then turned;

[NJblue]

It's been a loooong time since driver's training, but we were taught to enter the intersection and wait for traffic to clear before completing the turn - just as you describe.