Golf cart speed rant...
 

I learned that the speed limit for golf carts that are not street legal is 20mph. So I spent the extra money for a street legal cart with a speed limit of 25mph and spent the extra money to license it. It also costs more to insure them. So when I am driving on a street and get passed by non-licensed golf carts clearly going over 20 and even over 25, it really irks me. If there was any evidence that the sheriff or police where doing anythin significant about it, it would not bother me so much. However, with the number of clearly illegally modified golf carts out there, it is clear they are having ZERO impact on the problem. Why not just drop the speed limit since no one seems to pay any attention to it anyway, or start spending more time and effort to enforce it at a level that is equal to the level of those ignoring the law? A PSA occassionally on Television is NOT a good use of time or resources to impact the problem. It is simply to give the appearance that something is being done. And the realivtively tiny number of infractions that actually get ticketed are also meaningless, they are too few in comparison with the size of the problem. For me, if this is still ignored when it is time to renew my LSV registration, I am dumping it and just doing what everyone else seems to be doing, getting a free ride on an illegally modified golf cart.

:police: I'm sure that will help the problem. chilout

So they should use highly trained police officers to ticket a few golf carts? I do agree that these carts are small problem, but I'm not a fan taking officers from dealing with bigger problems.

The good thing is, this is a minor problem.

In every situation, religious group, organization, family, etc., there are a few who cause issues.

The majority are good.

Doesn't it bring you any comfort that you are insured and they are not? That you did the right thing. And if they are insured, the insurance company has the right not to cover any altered vehicle?

You haven't made that many posts. I suspect you're going to run into lot's of things that will set you off but not set off most people on TOTV.

[unless you're just making statements to inflame others just for sport]

I agree that speeding golf carts are a safety problem. These carts were not designed for speeds over 20 mph, they can flip on turns, and let's face it, TV does not have the best drivers in the world. And that's the adults, not the 7 year old grandchildren that end up behind the wheel. Just yesterday I was on Pinellas Place, going 20.4 mph and a non-street legal cart blew by me like I was standing still---had to be doing between 28 and 34. He passed a few cars as well.
That being said, I'm not sure if your post is rooted in safety, or are you just p!$$ed off that you spent all that money to go an extra 5 mph that many seem to be doing (illegally) for free?

With so many visitors here, I would guess a lot go on the roads by mistake. Yes, I'm sure there are a few that don't care about rules and do it intentionally. Also, I think visitors see the street legal carts on the street and don't realize the difference. When we first moved here we did it once totally by mistake in an area we couldn't get out of easily. Recently some friends that have been here 8 years moved to a new area and went right out into the traffic circle. By the time they knew they screwed up it was just better to keep going and get on the path as soon as they could.

If you think this is a small problem, you are not very observant. And take police/deputies from what bigger issues? It can't be from enforcing the speed limit on the roads for cars, they don't do that either, especially with vendors. Everything seems likea a small problem to some people, until they are affected by it. These carts are not safe, and there are LOTs of them, not a few. As our population grows, it will get worse if not stopped. These are "multi-modal" paths where people walk, dogs are walked, and bikes are riden.

I was being facetious, although I have no doubt others who have also taken on the additional expense of registration might think that way.

Hopefully the axes being ground in this thread are sharp(er) now.

golfing eagles, probably both of course, but safety primarily.

Probably both of course, but safety primarily.

Still don't understand what an LSV gets you for the investment. 5 MPH is insignificant, cars are still faster and bigger so one error will get you killed. EGO? I'm a believer that all carts should be insured so that should come off the the table.

Try speeding south of Palmer CC on Buena Vista..........they are there several times a month, always with many customers.

Really cannot justify the extra $$ for cart and insurance so you can go 25mph and cruise down Morse Blvd & Buena Vista.

I agree with you. Personally, I would not want to operate any golf cart on Buena Vista, Morse Blvd. etc. Or cross 27/441 or even Rolling Acres. They are legal though, so it's a matter of choice. There was a time when there was a significant tax credit offered for buying LSVs and NEVs. That could have factored into decision making for buying a street legal cart.
Recently, those street legal carts owners were offered a reprieve from vehicle registration with the state. With proof that they modified their cart to operate at 20 mph, the street legal cart owners could have that tag dropped, and they would become regular golf carts that could operate where non street legal carts do. I'm of the opinion that some owners (not all of course) took advantage of the reprieve, then tweaked their cart speed back up, gaming the system if you will.

You can ride on the roads that are under 35 mph.

And if you do, you might just end up at the funeral home 5 mph. quicker

It wouldn't be my first choice in transportation but at least he now understands why some choose LSV's.

I just don't understand why anyone would WANT to. It's the Villages equivalent of sending your kid out to play in traffic. What did Scotty say to Kirk in an episode where they lost main power and the Klingons were attacking?---"We can wallow like a garbage scow in front of a warp driven starship"?

It's bigger, faster and I'll say safer than a bike but smaller than a garbage scow.

Also smells better:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

theriuz:

Let me get this straight . You were willing to pay more for insurance and annual registration fees so that you can go 5mph more than other carts? Being able to travel roads where other carts cannot legally go doesn't give you the satisfaction you seek? You probably made this additional investment because you recognized that The Villages is really spreading out and one needs to take advantage of ways to manage distant and time.

In addition you express a loss of a schenfreude moment at the thought that those carts drivers who did not pay for street legal but, exceed 20mph are not being punished.

You may have not recognized that those cart drivers who use the MMP's legally may be upset that you may be traveling over 20 mph and possibly the full extent of 25mph on MMP's but unaware that you feel justified because you paid extra for the additional speed?

More to the point this obsession over 5 mph is more than I can handle any longer because it is getting really over exaggerated and keeps repeating on TOTV and in the scheme of things amounts to bupkus.

I have a sneaking suspicion that like highways some drivers just get upset for whatever reason when someone passes them as if the moving vehicle has no right to pass them; albeit you have my agreement if it is an unsafe passing situation

There was one poster on here who once said that he believed all drivers should not exceed the 45mph on 466. To ensure so he stayed in the left lane at 45mph to hold back traffic.


Theriuz, this post may speak to your mind and your heart? I hope not?

Personal Best Regards:

And they wonder why road rage is more and more prevalent

And I'm not finished with that idiot

He and everyone like him should be cited for failure to keep right, before someone gets really p!$$ed off and runs him off the road or worse. Who does he think he is to dictate driving terms to everyone else?

He's a curmudgeon, let it be.

George Carlin had it right: something like "Ever notice that when someone passes you they are an "@55hole", and when you pass someone driving slower they are a "moron"?

rickey: the extra emphasis by posters is not for this OP but other potential curmudgeons lurking out there.

tomwed: best regards, best wishes always civil, always friendly. You could even hit my golf ball by mistake and I wouldn't get mad at you:wave:

He did.

How about the others?

Rapscallion St Croix: What an elegant username. My use of the word schadenfreude does exist. My keyboard skills have diminished and hence the "e"vis a vis ä" . I'm down to a two finger pecking But I have an excuse I'm just getting over a cold.

Please don't hit my golf ball. Friendly, civil best wishes and regards:1rotfl::1rotfl:

As I'm sure you know, having a licensed LSV allows you to travel on some streets where golf carts are not allowed. If someone has a cart that goes 25 or more and they drive on Buena Vista or around the round abouts they have a very good chance of being pulled over.

If you drop the license, registration and insurance you will no longer be able to travel these routes and be forced to take the longer MMPs.

If that's what you want to do then by all means just drop the license.

It's been stated several times in this thread now. With an LSV you are allowed to drive on Morse, Buena Vista, El Camino Real and any other roads where the speed limit is 35 or below. You are also allowed to cross 27/441 at the lights which would be a big deal for me.

I live in Silver Lake. I am less than a half mile from the CVS on Avenida Central. But, in order to get there in my golf cart I have to drive almost a mile up to the golf cart bridge and then another mile from the bridge to the CVS. We find ourselves in that CVS and the Target and other stores behind it quite often. I've thought about getting an LSV just to be able to cross 27/441 and save my self a lot of time but it's not worth it to me. I just put up with having to go two miles out of my way to reach a destination a quarter mile away.

In general, if you could use the streets mentioned the routes are much shorter than using the MMPs where you have togo up side streets cross over and use multiple tunnels to get to your destination.

I took my cart to Hemmingway yesterday and had to cross under Morse twice. I'm sure that I traveled several mile more then had I been in a car or an LSV

Now if you want to talk about the safety or wisdom of having a fast golf cart sharing the roads with cars, that's a different story and I'm glad that people are able to make about their minds about that.

Frankly, I don't think that any vehicle that's not capable of going the posted speed limit should be allowed on roads where speed limits are posted. It's very frustrating having to go 25 on a 35 MPH road because you're behind a vehicle that's not capable of reaching the speed limit.

there is more than speed with a LSV....they have all the safety features of a vehicle designed for the road.....4 wheel hydraulic brakes,windshield wipers,safety windshield etc etc etc

Mmmm---just like my SUV, except my SUV weighs 4600 pounds, the biggest safety feature of all

Including bicycles?

Not necessarily. The guy going 45 in the left lane to control traffic as HE sees fit, falls into the first category