Golf cart VS automobile right of way?!?!
 

We all know at roadway and MMP/golf cart intersections the automobile has the right of way....right?

There are many that do not know or understand the law on this subject. Almost every day, in my golf cart, at such intersections I am waived through by an auto driver.

I happen to be one who will not go and just wave back. Most auto drivers wave again like,,,,no you go. I shake my head and fold my arms....they usually display being upset in one way or another......and then there are the horn blowers behind me. I wave and wish them good morning/afternoon/etc. It seems like an authority contest....sometimes:o

Please remind your friends/relatives/visitors to not stop and wave golf carts through. One they are breaking the law. Second, other vehicular traffic may not be aware and third it sets up a danger on the vehicular roadway.

This was in the dot com news this morning and triggered this reminder.

There I have done my good deed for today...right?
:duck:

Thank you for posting this - Unfortunately, this happens regularly at the Polo Ridge Gate when coming off BV. We have been behind someone who is holding up a line of traffic snaking back onto BV while they let golf carts cross the gate. Very dangerous.

Well Said!

Sadly...this scenario happens all too frequently. :oops:

While the auto driver 'thinks' they are being courteous, they are simply creating a hazard that should a collision occur...will result in the golf cart driver being at fault.

In almost all cases, if the 'courteous auto driver' would just continue through the gate/road as normal...the cart que will clear much quicker. :shrug:

It's againest the law..plain and simple! We see folks doing this fairly regularily! Also NOT stopping at the stop signs, NOT yielding at the yield signs as well as tinkering with their carts so they go faster than it is designed for. These folks, the latter ones at least, think that the law doesn't apply to them.

The MMP to hell is paved with good intentions and a few speed bumps..

///

And those in a hurry...to get there. :1rotfl:

Yes! Spot on... I do exactly the same thing as you and have been cursed at! Oh my!

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The biggest problem in my opinion is the indecision it places in the minds of the cart drivers. Do I go or do I yield? If I am allowed the right of way three times in a row and on the fourth occasion I assume (wrongly) that the car will yield, I not only cause the accident, but am likely to be hurt or even killed.

I’ve had the passenger wave me on and not the driver. Ah No

I usually communicate my desire to wait it out with an exaggerated voicing of a two word phrase starting with a labiodental fricative. Even the most novice of lip readers can usually comprehend my declination. I would rather be thought to be a vulgarian than to be expire whilst benefiting from someone's misguided courtesy.

so simple-have signage "Do Not Wave on Carts"

Drivers don't read existing signs.......................

That works for STOP signs. No reason it wouldn't work to resolve this issue either.

You are preaching to the choir, Billie. I drive a car and I never offer to let a cart go in front of me at an entry gate.

I never drive over the speed limit and am very careful to let the carts merge in front of me on roads like Hillsborough or Pinellas when the cart lane goes out.

I see a lot of weird behavior on our roads but so far I have not had an accident or a really close call. So far.

Okay, I will bite and disagree with the mob.

Just be safe. Your actions are all the matter. If it is safe, cross, if not, don't. Make your intentions known. You don't know the reason they are waving you on. Maybe there is no one behind them and they are adjusting their seatbelt. They slow down for the adjustment in a slow area, makes sure there are no hazards, and waves you on. All good in my book.

Also, I sometimes cross the double yellow lines to make sure a golf cart is safe. Oh well.

Billethkid, very well said. And we all know that there are not really "Rights" on any road but we do have laws of regulations.
And in my opinion, each persons safety is our highest law, and everybody should see that this way.

Here we go again
 

There is a meeting once a month at the Savanna Center where you can directly ask these questions from the police. speed-right of way etc.

I ride a bike, drive a car and drive a golf cart. TRUTH we have some people driving around here that may never have learned how to properly drive or have long since forgotten.

As to golf cart right of way-THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY-SIMPLE. As to whether the person at the wheel of the golf cart knows the rules and will f9llow them. YOU HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW SO IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME THEY WILL DO THE STUPIDEST THING POSSIBLE.

Those that stop and wave carts through do so because it makes them feel good. This is why, unfortunately, they will continue to do it. I also believe that it creates a hazard where none should exist because of the confusion that it causes (or potentially causes). Confusion on the road is not a good thing.

Not so sure that I want to cross in front of a car where the driver is doing something other that watching the road in front of them.

I know why they might be cursing at you
 

Let me first say that I totally agree with you and I see the potential problem with inconsistently following of this law.

That being said, might I suggest that you shake your head "no thanks" when they wave you on? If you wave it is a commonly accepted gesture of thank you and the car is then expecting you to proceed in your cart. You don't proceed (for good reason) and then the car driver thinks you are being a jerk or playing a game....hence the cursing.

Second I think that they should give each renter/visitor/new resident a short mandatory course in golf cart rules and automobile roundabouts to help set the tone from the beginning. It could be on video and not cost a penny. We have videos at work that you must watch to completion and cannot fast forward, to ensure it is watched.

They could make it and keep it on the web site---and set up a tv in each
real estate building on a contentious loop.

:bigbow:

I see it most often at intersections where if the car goes they will be stopped in the golf cart crossing while waiting for the gate to raise for the car in front of them. Or, in those really busy intersections, they are in line waiting for cars to merge onto the Circle. They aren’t going anywhere anyway, might as well clear a few carts.

Yet on several occasions at the Hemingway Gate I have been the beneficiary of the now famous " Villages One Finger Salute " delivered firmly by
a baying man or woman with a distinctively North East accent for doing no more than following the law and proceeding thru the gated intersection .

Perhaps some small signs indicating to the cart drivers that vehicles have the right of way just might help keep blood pressures a bit lower .
And all of us a bit safer .

right or wrong golf cart loses

If that was intentional...brilliant! :1rotfl:


If unintentional...your parapraxis is showing. :D

Does anybody really believe signs work in TV?
:a20:

Truth be told I spellchecked continuous but up came contentious and I thought that's even better and wondered if anyone would pick that up. I had to look up parapraxis. wow that's a good word i won't remember.

I had the same thing happen to me. BUT the person had a distinctive southern accent

They do if they contain the words "happy hour", "early bird special", or "free".

I’ve had people behind me in their carts hong and yell, curse at me to go. THE LAW IS THE LAW. Maybe the police should start watching these areas and start handing out tickets to drivers in cars and drivers in golf carts. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Signs at the crossing stating cars have the right of way should be posted for car drivers and cart drivers to see.

What has been working for me so far is to not make eye contact with the Car's Driver when in the situation Billethkid brings up. He is on the money. No eye contact and the car continues on because everyone is in a hurry. It just works. The people in back of me who get anxious sound like they have a problem, not me.

Things driving wise around our community will never change no matter what your mode of transportation. Someone else said this a long time ago, act as if everyone around you on the road is Kryptonite. That was one smart man or woman. It breaks my heart when I see somebody get jammed up in an accident. Expect the worst at all times and beware of your surroundings. The OP asked, "There I have done my good deed for today...right?" I would say so.

That’s what I do. No fuss. No muss. :)

This thread is the most law-abiding group of individuals I have seen on TOTV. I hope all your golf carts are governed to not exceed 20 MPH.

The place where it drives me crazy is crossing under 466 going North going to Southern Trace. I have had cars waving me across when they are in the turn left lane leaving Publix. They are waving me to cross while cars are passing them on the right to go straight thru or turn right.

I think they are trying to kill me. Maybe these folks who wave us through are the same ones who hold up traffic to slow down to see the blood and gore at an accident on the other side of the turnpike. They want to see more. They are really not being nice, they are trying to hurt you very badly.

I agree
 

I see it every day.... car drivers waiving carts through. I think they intend it to be polite, not realizing that the car has the right of way, and they are creating a dangerous situation. The Villages could do more to address this with signs for cars and carts at these crossings. That would at least clarify things. When I see a car waiving me through on my cart, I avoid eye contact and just sit and wait. If a cart behind me gets ****ed off, that's their problem.

That's exactly what I do. I pretend I'm in my own little world where I can't see fingers and don't hear horns. In reality I am completely aware of what is going on. And sometimes I accidentally hit the horn and make some kind of wild arm motion that's supposed to let others know "to just ignore the horn, I'm not one of them."

Community Improvement Council suggestion
 

Let's bring this issue to the attention of The Villages:

Make A Suggestion – Villages CIC