Guarded crossing gates

[Grill Meister]

Am I the only one who has experienced approaching the resident gate, stopping, having the crossing arm raise up and almost colliding with another vehicle going through on the visitors side and almost having a collision? As you know, most have fences separating resident entrances from visitor entrances and you are not aware of the vehicle until it's almost too late. And when your gate goes up you instinctively start driving forward.

I would image the first order of business for the crossing guard is to prevent any and all accidents. And the second order would be the orderly movement of vehicles through the gates.

Too many times this has happened to me and the last time was just this morning.

Be careful.....be very, very careful. And guards, wake up. Don't lift that other gate until the coast is clear.....very, very clear. :pray:

[villagetinker]

I have experienced this also, and I agree with you about making sure the lane is clear for the resident. I have gone on the defensive, and always look over my shoulder or use the rear view mirror if I saw a vehicle in the visitor lane while I am going through the resident lane.

[VApeople]

No, I have never had that problem.

Maybe because I drive slowly and am very aware of my surroundings.

[Bill14564]

The guards might be able to do better but:
- some won't
- you can't be sure
- the same situation can occur at unguarded gates

The only thing you can do is to check carefully before proceeding and merging

[Altavia]

You have to be extra careful at the Richmond gate. Visibility is poor going north until about halfway across. Not sure the gate attendant has visability or is looking first either.

[Michael G.]

Guarded crossing gates??

As I was told many times in tv, there is no "guarded gates", only "gated gates". :shrug:

[Hape2Bhr]

Guarded crossing gates??

As I was told many times in tv, there is no "guarded gates", only "gated gates". :shrug:

You've been told they are not security gates, but traffic control gates to accommodate autos and carts.

[Keefelane66]

I should be set to where only one gate is operated at a time.
Common sense is to complicated.

[Bogie Shooter]

Use the visitor gate.:duck:

[Marathon Man]

No, I have never had that problem.

Maybe because I drive slowly and am very aware of my surroundings.

Good answer.

[Blackbird45]

There is another issue that has to do with golf carts.
I'm always super careful when driving through because some of these golf cart drivers will just shoot out in front of your car.
I believe there is an easy solution and it not high tech.
Just install mirrors at these crossing, this way making them fully aware there is a car about to cross their path.

[CSB1228]

Am I the only one who has experienced approaching the resident gate, stopping, having the crossing arm raise up and almost colliding with another vehicle going through on the visitors side and almost having a collision? As you know, most have fences separating resident entrances from visitor entrances and you are not aware of the vehicle until it's almost too late. And when your gate goes up you instinctively start driving forward.

I would image the first order of business for the crossing guard is to prevent any and all accidents. And the second order would be the orderly movement of vehicles through the gates.

Too many times this has happened to me and the last time was just this morning.

Be careful.....be very, very careful. And guards, wake up. Don't lift that other gate until the coast is clear.....very, very clear. :pray:


Why don't you just use the gate with the attendant?? As a resident, you can use either gate. I've been a resident for 17 years and I use the gate with the least cars in line. The reason for ALMOST having a collision is because you probably hurried and tried to beat the other vehicle. Attendants have to keep traffic moving so it doesn't back up into roundabouts. (No I'm not a gate keeper)

[sdeikenberry]

Regardless of any other reasons, it's still the driver's responsibility to be aware of anything around them...defensive driving folks.

[Retiredsteve]

I have experienced this also, and I agree with you about making sure the lane is clear for the resident. I have gone on the defensive, and always look over my shoulder or use the rear view mirror if I saw a vehicle in the visitor lane while I am going through the resident lane.. Shouldn't we all drive defensively all the time anyway?

[kendi]

Never had that problem because i look before proceeding. Agree with the defensive driving comments.

[jimmy o]

It is not the guard job to direct traffic. It also is not a gate problem if someone is in the next lane. Picture a toll road before ez pass ; many lanes of traffic, each with their own gate all merging onto one large entrance ramp with each car performing merging maneuvers This is basically what we have with any gate inTV, the same thing only on a small scale. We need to perform merging maneuvers. When you are pulling up to any gate you should be able to see if there is another car in the other lane, is there? Then you gotta figure that they’re going to drive thru at some point. Don’t collide with them.

[Woodbutcher]

I read about traffic gates in one districtgov document (don't remember which). It stated the Visitor lane has the right of way and Resident lane must yield.

[cjky2k]

Use the visitor gate.:duck:

Not all entrances are the same, but we have found using the visitors lane into our area is the best choice. The button/pad is farther back so you have a clear view of anyone in the resident’s lane. Both gates work the same - use card or push the button - so we have learned to choose the lane with the best visibility.

[spinner1001]

Am I the only one who has experienced approaching the resident gate, stopping, having the crossing arm raise up and almost colliding with another vehicle going through on the visitors side and almost having a collision? As you know, most have fences separating resident entrances from visitor entrances and you are not aware of the vehicle until it's almost too late. And when your gate goes up you instinctively start driving forward.

I would image the first order of business for the crossing guard is to prevent any and all accidents. And the second order would be the orderly movement of vehicles through the gates.

Too many times this has happened to me and the last time was just this morning.

Be careful.....be very, very careful. And guards, wake up. Don't lift that other gate until the coast is clear.....very, very clear. :pray:

The gated areas with an attendant assisting visitors that I recall treat the activity as merging two lanes into one. The attached photo shows the gates and guard house. The _resident_ lane is merging into the visitor lane. It does not show the visitor lane merging into the resident lane. Is your area reversed?

Merging two lanes into one occurs in many places without gate attendants both inside and outside TV. Who is responsible in the cases without an attendant? Methinks the obligation is with the driver in the lane merging in — the resident lane in this case — and not anyone else. The introduction of a guard house does not shift the responsibility for merging from the resident lane driver to the attendant assisting visitors. It just doesn’t.

Florida Statutes put the responsibility on the driver who is attempting to merge into the destination lane (the visitor lane in this photo).

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.085.html)

[msilagy]

It's on the drivers of both vehicles to proceed with caution......

[ithos]

Usually it is the driver going through the visitor gate that speeds up to try and beat the person in the residents lane. The guard should hold the person up until the resident gate arm starts to move.

My rule of thumb is that if the person exited from the circle before me then I let them go first if they are in a different lane even if I could get through my gate sooner.

[coralway]

Common sense doesn’t work around here. As with the roundabouts, it’s every man, and woman, for themselves.

[VApeople]

Not all entrances are the same, but we have found using the visitors lane into our area is the best choice. The button/pad is farther back so you have a clear view of anyone in the resident’s lane.

That is a very good idea.

[deputydoc]

Guarded crossing gates??

As I was told many times in tv, there is no "guarded gates", only "gated gates". :shrug:

What? That’s not the saying, it’s this is not a gated community, it’s a community with gates

[mntlblok]

The gated areas with an attendant assisting visitors that I recall treat the activity as merging two lanes into one. The attached photo shows the gates and guard house. The _resident_ lane is merging into the visitor lane. It does not show the visitor lane merging into the resident lane. Is your area reversed?

Merging two lanes into one occurs in many places without gate attendants both inside and outside TV. Who is responsible in the cases without an attendant? Methinks the obligation is with the driver in the lane merging in — the resident lane in this case — and not anyone else. The introduction of a guard house does not shift the responsibility for merging from the resident lane driver to the attendant assisting visitors. It just doesn’t.

Florida Statutes put the responsibility on the driver who is attempting to merge into the destination lane (the visitor lane in this photo).

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.085.html)

Such ridiculously logical posts risk ending the discussions. 😀

[coffeebean]

///
Sorry. Duplicate post.

[coffeebean]

Never had that problem because i look before proceeding. Agree with the defensive driving comments.

Yup. That's what I do to. Look before you leap. What I do, however, is make sure I clear the gate before it can come crashing down on my car.

[AlanPerkins]

Main reason is that some lazy residents swan through the visitors gate as they don’t need to roll their window down. Gate keepers should allow residents line to empty before opening visitors gate that would solve the problem

[Velvet]

Only once have I had a visitor almost run into me as we were both leaving the gates at the same time. Since then I check to see where the other car is before I proceed. No problem since.

[Number 10 GI]

Main reason is that some lazy residents swan through the visitors gate as they don’t need to roll their window down. Gate keepers should allow residents line to empty before opening visitors gate that would solve the problem

There a lot of gates in TV that have no gate keepers. The problem will be solved when drivers obey traffic laws, pay attention to their surroundings and practice defensive driving.

[Bwanajim]

The guards at the entrance on Marsh Bend & 301 are great! They stand up, they watch, and they decide when to open the gate. I have no complaints at all.

[Maker]

What if all the gates were removed?
Take out all the stuff blocking the line of sight such as landscaping, trees, signs, walls, gate hardware, and the gate houses. Now everyone can see everyone.
Carts would quickly learn that darting in front of vehicles is stupid. So they will wait (as they are supposed to do).
With no gates, congestion would go away. There would be efficient traffic flow. Groups of vehicles would pass by a lot quicker, allowing golf carts a lot more opportunity to cross.

[Marathon Man]

What if all the gates were removed?
Take out all the stuff blocking the line of sight such as landscaping, trees, signs, walls, gate hardware, and the gate houses. Now everyone can see everyone.
Carts would quickly learn that darting in front of vehicles is stupid. So they will wait (as they are supposed to do).
With no gates, congestion would go away. There would be efficient traffic flow. Groups of vehicles would pass by a lot quicker, allowing golf carts a lot more opportunity to cross.

Uh, no.

[Altavia]

What if all the gates were removed?
Take out all the stuff blocking the line of sight such as landscaping, trees, signs, walls, gate hardware, and the gate houses. Now everyone can see everyone.
Carts would quickly learn that darting in front of vehicles is stupid. So they will wait (as they are supposed to do).
With no gates, congestion would go away. There would be efficient traffic flow. Groups of vehicles would pass by a lot quicker, allowing golf carts a lot more opportunity to cross.

Thankfully, this waste of resources on gate houses isn't being replicated as frequently in the new Villages.

[mtdjed]

Only once have I had a visitor almost run into me as we were both leaving the gates at the same time. Since then I check to see where the other car is before I proceed. No problem since.

There are very few gates controlled by Gatekeepers. Just because a gate is labeled "Visitor" or "Resident" does not mean that is who is using that gate. I agree that you cannot rely on users applying common sense. That is why you must use your common sense, vigilance and courtesy.