Golf Cart rules of the road.
 

I have a question regarding right-of-way when driving along a road like
St. Charles. We in the cart are 200 yards from an intersection with a car just behind us who is signaling a right turn. It slows to our rate of speed
seeming to want us to proceed through the intersection before it. We slow thinking, we not knowing the correct procedure and not wanting to encounter a large object, let the car pass. The driver of the car following the car we let turn in front of us, is upset. Did we error in our thinking? My thought is, "Defensive driving, especially in a golf cart". What's the right thing to do?

IMO you pull out in traffic when safe to do so when diamonds lane ends. Try not to get stuck stopped trying to pull out. You should also never make make left turn from the diamonds lanes. Pull out in vehicle lane when safe to do so , use you’re blinker and or hand signal. St Charles very busy if you have to pull out sooner than you want so be it. Don’t worry about AH’s behind you. Pull out when safe to do so. Speed limit probably 25 on at Charles, very few vehicles go under 25 MPH makes it hard to safety pull out. another thing vehicles shouldn’t be pacing along side you. I either pass of stay behind until it safe to pass carts in diamonds lanes. And if diamonds lanes ends I never speed up at last minute to get ahead of cart.

A good rule of the road is to avoid injury by always yieldIng to anything bigger than you. If walking yield to a bike, bikes yield to golf carts, golf carts yield to cars, and cars yield to trucks. I always follow this practice regardless of what the official rules are, because many people don’t follow the legal rules and I don’t want to have to say that I had the right of way from a hospital bed.

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

Agree

understand your response, we were in a situation were we slowed and so did the car.
 

The intersection ahead of us was a road to the right only and the diamond lane went right on through. We were going through the intersection and the car was turning right. In a normal traffic situation it would have been as if someone was turning right from the left lane. Just one of those TV things that depends on the drivers. If I was driving the car I would have waited for the golf cart to pass through the intersection, which caused the problem. The car slowed and so did we, thus annoying the driver following the car. We did let the car turn in front of us allowing me to observe the following drivers gesture of frustration :icon_wink:.

The driver in vehicle should of never been along side you if he was turning right, he should of yielded. And he shouldn’t of cut you off turning. IMO you should held you’re speed and let him fall in behind you where he should of been in first place turning when lane was occupied. Bottom line you didn’t get hit. The second car Back was inpatient AH.

O, by the way you’re going to run into a lot of inpatient __s in villages, out of bubble, in Florida, well everywhere.

Your description of the intersection was confusing. IMHO, the car that slowed behind you was doing the right thing, and didn't want to turn right in front of your cart. Seeing the car staying behind you, you should have proceeded on, and let him turn behind you, not in front. As for the car behind him, I can't really speak to why he was mad.

I agree in principal.
 

We were headed toward Tamarind Grove Run on St. Charles about 1/2 mile left to go. My wife was driving, I was hanging on. It can be hard to
judge the intentions of a driver in the mirror of a golf cart bumping along St. Charles, where the cart(diamond) lane is somewhat rough(IMHO) :duck: We did have the right-of-way, but the odds were against us if we
guessed wrong. Just part of fun of TV. Was a great day on the golf course!

Understood. I'm glad everything turned out good.:)

I try to be considerate of golf carts, if they get to (or will get to) the merge area or an intersection before I do, I will yield to the golf cart as I do not know what they are doing (going straight or turning), I do not pace a golf cart (unless they are doing 30 MPH) and it takes me a long time to pass. Also, if I have safely passed a golf cart and further down the road I am turning right, I will signal AND place my right side tires in the golf cart lane to prevent the golf cart from coming up beside me as I slow down for the turn. Please note that I deliberately leave lots of room between my and the following golf cart, if I cannot do this, I drop in BEHIND the golf cart. I really do not want to hit or cause an accident with a golf cart.
Also as stated above I always yield to the large vehicle, especially when I am in the golf cart.

I've driven St. Charles everyday for the past 9-1/2 years since I have lived in Tamarind Grove. I found about 1 car driver in 50 will do this, and it actually makes more sense and I've been doing for about 5 years.

Just like a cart driver when they see spacing will merge into the car lane when wanting to make a left. As a car driven wanting to make a right turn and there are carts in the cart lane to the right of me, I select whether I'm going ahead or behind the cart and move over into the cart lane with my car about 3' or halfway into the cart lane and of course my right turn signal was already applied. This leaves no doubt in anyone's mind where my sequence for turning is going to be. There's absolutely no way a cart will be next to me, I've eliminated every problem that could have arisen simply by merging slightly into the cart lane. I do this almost everyday since I have to make a right turn onto Southern Star Way (Tamarind Grove Blvd) when coming from the south and have not had a problem for over 5 years with this method.

I wish all drivers in TV would learn to do this, just like cart drivers learn to merge left, until you see that one cart driver about once month who seems to want to make a left from the cart lane. This fellow tried that 3 yeas ago on O'Dell and was killed.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4f&oe=5FE54A77

You gotta use some horse sense. Each situation differs but, if you see the following vehicle is slowing down for you (I do that all the time especially if quickly passing then turning would cut the cart off), continue on. IMO, it's like 4 cars stop (ha!) at a 4-way stop and everyone keeps motioning the other to go. Golf cart is a legal vehicle and if you need to make a left, get out in the main lane with your signal before you're squeezed into the curb.

Just a heads up about 4 way stop: where I learned how to drive, if in doubt as to who stopped first, it's the person on the right who has the right of way. Hopefully there isn't 4 cars that are in this predicament though! Then yes, a bunch of waving arms will occur!

Cars making right turns are supposed to yield to golf cart going straight. However not all cars know so better safe than sorry

I am with you and let the golf cart proceed before turning. Another method I have seen is to merge into the MMP to turn right.

I wondered about doing just that, while driving a car. Makes a lot of sense if its "legal". I saw something about getting a ticket for driving in the cart lane but I think in this circumstance it is the safest way to go.
I once had a cart pull up and take a right at the stop sign on Tamarind Grove Run onto St. Charles. I was looking left and when I pulled out to turn right the cart had already rounded the corner and was right next to me. If I had turned a little sharper I would have run him up on the curb
or hit him. He had driven through the area at the intersection marked
with crossed white lines, meaning move left. Shook me a little as I didn't see him come up on my right side.

Isn't it mind boggling how a large part of the population here being retired and for the most part pretty well off with plenty of free time are always in a hurry, rude, and just a-holes in general. Please all take a look at yourself. If this describes you make an effort to relax. The bank tellers, wait staff and working people in general serving all your needs don't deserve your rude treatment of them.

If there was still 200 yards before the intersection, he can go 30 miles an hour, but you can only do 20 miles an hour. He should have gotten in front of you and made the turn. He would’ve been far in front of you by the time the turn was made.

Basically you should have kept going and not slowed for the car to turn right.

It is important to follow the rules of the road and to be predictable.

If you were traveling down the road and did not have your signal on then the car expected you to maintain speed. The car slowed so that he would turn behind you and not cut you off. Perhaps there was enough space for him to get around and turn but he wasn't sure and so he slowed. You slowing down was unpredictable and created confusion; should he slow even further to stay behind you to the point that you both stop in the street? Your unpredictable change in speed confused him and required him to make an unexpected adjustment.

Following the rules of the road and being predictable will solve many problems.

Legally the golf cart has the right of way in your described situation. Since the car slowed down they recognized your ROW and were waiting for you to cross the intersection before turning which means you held up traffic and complicated the situation by slowing down. I don’t blame you for being cautious because we have been cut-off by vehicles turning right in front of our cart. We try to watch the mirror when approaching an intersection and if a car drives up beside us we cover the brake and slow down just in case the car turns right. If the car slows to remain behind us we continue through the intersection without delay. Driving here is much different than most places because of the multi modal path interaction. Better safe than sorry.

Some golf cart drivers don’t understand how to merge into traffic.
 

I think some car drivers are concerned that you may pull in front of them. I’ve noticed that many golf cart drivers act like the yield sign isn’t for them. I’ve lived here for 9 years and I still can’t believe that golf carts pull in front of a 2,000 lb vehicle.

There is one thing I wish people in cars would remember. You have tinted windows and a person in a golf cart or on a bike or walking can't always see you motioning to them. While taking golf cart rules into consideration, if everyone in cars would just follow regular driving rules there would be less confusion and everyone would be on the same page. I can't tell you how many times I've had a stand off with a car in my golf cart when they had the right of way but were motioning for me to go and I couldn't see inside their car. I know people are just trying to be considerate and that is nice but can also cause confusion.

My view-the term accident is at best incorrect. Most accidents can be avoided so in many cases the proper term is a stupid act. As to the proper rules. Assuming that the other person knows the rules and will follow them is a reach. In a golf cart, an unlicensed vehicle in almost all cases the car has the right of way.

As far as some driver being annoyed. "The driver following the car we let turn in front of us, is upset." I am not sure of your whole story and I don't know you or the upset driver but I expect the upset driver is of the type who will shortly find something else to be upset about

You will find frustrated people no matter what you do. Best to do what keeps you the safest.

The driver of the car did the right thing by staying behind to make the right turn. They are supposed to let you proceed straight while they stay back to make their right turn.

IMHO ....If you have the right of way, you should take it. I've seen too many near misses by those who yield when they should proceed.
Especially at an intersection where there are only two stop signs on the crossing streets. People without the stop sign actually stop (they must think that they are being "nice") and wave the other car (or cart) to proceed, without being aware or caring about the vehicles behind them.
Road signs are there for a purpose. Read them and obey them, and there should be an orderly and safe passage of all vehicles.
Yeah, there will always be accidents, but you can minimize them by paying attention and obeying them.

The car was correct to let you go thru the intersection ahead of his pending right turn in front of you.

Right... forget the formal "rules" and follow this advice !

Just had this situation: going thru Bellvedere gate by high school in golf cart, pushed button, gate up, proceeded, gate arm in auto lane is down. As I approached the first street on the right (only yards after the gate is a street that turns into a villa area on the right) I hear a ROAR and an auto that passed through the gate well after I had come through the gate absolutely FLOORED the vehicle and cut right in front of me narrowly NARROWLY missing the front of my cart ! #1 how the person even made the right hand turn without loosing all control of the car ? #2 what would possess a person to make a turn right in front of a golf cart that was less than 3-5 SECONDS from passing that street into the villas. The individual who did this was NOT driving a FIRE TRUCK of emergency vehicle. I had no idea they were even through the gate yet until the roar and wheels squealing at they turned in front of the cart ! ? Go figure ?

You had right of way. A car cannot turn in front of you in a situation like that. Hope this helps!

Bottom line is it never hurts to drive very defensively while in a golf cart. Despite the very large signs posted on the entrances to The Villages many motorist see golf carts, bicycles, and motor cyclists as an impedance in their hurried rush to get somewhere. I've also observed golf cart drivers making assumptions they can out race or play chicken with cars damn near getting hit. I often wonder if other retirement, resort, or recreational facilities in Florida have the percentage of numb skulls we do who shouldn't even have driver licenses? Be careful out there!:)

Remember the "lug nut" rule; in an accident he with the most lug nuts wins!

Just protect yourself.
Makes no difference what the Rules really are; a mutitude of drivers do not know the ACTUAL rules (as can be seen from reading this thread).
Even if every single one read the rules, there would STILL be a difference of opinion of what the rule MEANS; and a continuation of drivers doing what they think is the correct thing to do.
If in doubt, pull out.

A strict rule when moving to the Villages is, you must first fail your driving test. If you know how to drive you can’t live in the Villages permanently. Temporary is ok, but you’ll need to triple your insurance coverage and let your insurance carrier know. Some carriers won’t insure safe drivers in the Villages, the risk factor is way to high!

Drive defensively
 

We have lived in TV almost 6 yrs now, and we learned early on that there are some (and the percentage seemed to be exponentially increasing) golf carts drivers who think somehow that they are entitled to the roadway regardless of what type of vehicle they are in. During our first couple of years, we were almost cut off several times coming through the Hillsborough gate by golf carts just merging into the traffic flow and trying to beat us to the first right hand turn at Cosmos Lane. Since those times, we now migrate to the golf cart lane with our signal on and turn effortlessly without hazard. We have learned NOT to judge the demeanor of the driver of the golf cart, we just dictate the rules of the road before a brewing conflagration. Works for us...our part at "defensive driving" amongst some of the morons who appear to be multiplying at an alarming rate.:boxing2:

You are correct, the driver is wrong. Congrats for defensive driving

This is a common, and dangerous misconception in the Villages. State law requires golf carts to yield to cars but unfortunately the majority of TV golf cart drivers, God love them, do not know this or refuse to comply with this law.

I so wish, for everyone’s safety, that awareness be raised that in the Villages, we have a tradition of cars yielding to golf carts (the opposite of the law).

So please...all newbies and outsiders, be aware of this unwritten law—- in the Villages, cars yield to golf carts. It’s not the way it’s legally supposed to be, but because the developer and the counties are doing nothing to enforce the real law, it’s in everyone’s best interest to learn this here wrong way of doing things.

Gee, I can think of other laws we Villagers, with our enormous power, should be allowed to ignore. Maybe we should form a committee.

And for those who always clamor for a citation (as I do too), see the paragraph under “Safety”: Golf Cart Requirements | The Villages Florida

let the rear driver be upset- i'm in a car & will ALWAYS keep an eye on what you are doing, i don't want to kill you. i'd rather slow a bit to make sure you can see me, -- the car is very quiet. those roads are narrow for a large vehicle & with oncoming traffic & you @ my right i need to exercise extreme caution.

That is not how we drive. Everywhere I cross paths with a golf cart (like leaving our neighborhood, turning into the parking lot at Sarasota golf facility, or crossing the MMP at Turtle Mound), I have the right-of-way and I take it. However, I always drive slowly.