Golf Cart vs Car
 

Several times I've seen issues with a car needing to make a right turn into a street and a line of golf carts in the golf cart lane preventing the car's ability to turn. Is it correct to assume that the golf carts have the right of way and the car needs to wait until the line of carts passes? Picture a golf cart parade / rally and a busy road and you have a traffic problem. At this particular intersection I have seen lines of 8 - 10 golf carts before the car has a chance to make the turn safely. Comments / Suggestions?

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Very good suggestion.:beer3:

I general golf carts should not have the right of way but when in a golf cart lane they have those rights. Most busy intersections have the golf carts merge into the travel lane to give cars the opportunity to turn as needed.

John_W, I do the exact same thing, have been doing it for over 7 years, no problems. I find this especially useful when the golf carts can do close to 30 mph and can 'sneak' up on you as you are slowing down. Always use turn signals.

Both John and Villagetinker are incorrect. Do not travel any distance in a designated golf cart lane, you are not a golf cart, you are operating a motor vehicle.

I can prove this to you quite simply. If it was a line of cyclists in the cart lane would you jump in the lane? Even if you are too much of a hurry to wait for the cyclists? What if there are 18 cyclists are you in the right then?

No. You wait for all the carts to pass then you safely execute your turn.

Things have certainly changed since the "old days" when upon turning into the villages from OBT/441, you found signs, very large signs, saying, "Caution, you are entering a golf ca1 rt community, golf carts have the right of way". Of course at one time, residents and renters alike almost all attended the (nearly mandatory) sessions on driving in the Villages, and also proper golf etiquette along with any local rules specifics to the V's, were taught. Don't think any of that happens any more, or if it does, seems few attended for sure. Saw two more serious accidents yesterday, seems it's a daily thing any more, sad to see, lots of changes here over the years but should not have to culminate in so many accidents and injuries. Seems to me 75% of the auto and cart traffic any more is in extreme hurry, EXTREME. Went to market day at Brownwood, Buena Vista was like a race track, no one paid any attention to the speed limit even though an empty squad car was present with a speed warning sign ! Never saw so many people in one place pay to little attention to speed and safety ? What is it doing this ??

This is why for my next birthday have asked my wife to buy me a Sherman tank to drive around here.:a040:

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I get it.

In today's world, where everyone has an opinion and thinks they deserve some special consideration isn't it wonderful that traffic laws are binary. There is the correct way to operate a motor vehicle and there is the wrong way

Again, you are not a golf cart, do not pretend you are, do not travel any distance in the cart lane. Do not operate under your own interpretation of the Florida code. Taking one third to one quarter of a cart lane for any length of time is a clear violation of Florida Statutes § 316.089

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No, no, no...golf carts do not have the right of way!!! It's foolish to think/act otherwise.

I'll be glad to point out which statute allows golf carts to operate on Florida roads, they are not acting as motor vehicles. Here it is: 316.212,  Operation of golf carts on certain roadways. Please review, any questions?

I am delighted to point out it is legal for a motor vehicle to cross a cart lane when traffic is clear and you have signaled your intentions. It is not legal to follow John's method to travel in a cart lane "by a few feet" for any length. The statue is clear.

Isn't that wonderful! We live in a state where the law is crystal clear. In some states the law and legal system has fallen apart so much that it's OK to riot and defecate in the street. Seriously, the destruction of society starts in small steps, when individuals decide for themselves it's ok to do as they please. If traffic laws require that you 'hold up traffic" while you wait for the carts to clear that is what a responsible operator of a motor vehicle does.

Would you allow me to forward your posts to your insurance agency because you have discovered a great a great idea? No, of course not. And there is your answer.

I agree, keep doing what you makes you comfortable, the police seem to be ok with cars sliding into the cart lane when making a right turn....in fact I have seen them do the same thing when turning into our mail stop. Sometimes common sense takes precedence over statutes.

You are incorrect. You have to enter that lane to turn so there is no harm in getting over there a few feet early. Keeps the traffic flowing

And there you have it...............everyone is "incorrect"......the reason why defensive driving is critical.


:clap2:

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:
:pray:

carts and driving
 

non cars always have the right of way... I hope they give you the same courtesy I give to anyone when turning- I always let some go whether cars or bikes or carts and usually some one stops for MY turn to turn. If not just wait - you're retired arent you ?

"IF" the cart is doing, or capable of doing, more than 19.8 mph then they are not carts but rather unlicensed motor vehicles and should not be in either the cart paths or on the road. Until the police tighten up on enforcement of the laws on speeding carts, there will continue to be serious accidents and controversy about this subject. When you hop up your cart consider the fact that "if" you have an accident you will be putting everything you own at risk.

Is that what the De in your Dewilson is an abbreviation for? :bigbow:
Common sense should prevail but as one said common sense ain’t so common any more

Death Race 2000
 

Death Race 2000 Point System

10 points for a man, 20 for a woman, 40 for a baby, 70 for putting the elderly out their misery, and 100 points for “feebs,” which is the politically correct term for disabled people. Teenagers pull in 40 points, and toddlers under 12 get 70 points, and anyone over 75 years old is worth 100 points.

Golf carts ought to be worth at least 150 points.

Death Race 2000 (1975)
In a dystopian future, a cross country automobile race requires contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points that are tallied based on each kill's brutality.
Director: Paul Bartel

I remember this saying from somewhere???

"Right-of-Way isn't something you have, it is something given to you. If it isn't given then you don't have it."

Q: Who has the right of way when four cars approach a four-way stop at the same time?
A: The pick-up truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker saying, “Guns don’t kill people. I do.”

We asked the police and they said it was ok to cross into the cart lane to make the turn.

Now that is what I call researching a topic

When I'm in my golf cart, I always slow down to allow a car to make a right turn. When a car has their right directional activated and the car is slowing down in the roadway, I slow down to give the car room to make the right turn. I have always thought the car has the right or way.

When I'm in my car and I wish to make a right turn, I activate my right turn directional and if the golf cart is too close to the corner, I slow down before I get to my turn. If a golf cart driver does not understand my intentions and continues at the same speed, I come to a complete stop in the roadway so I don't hit the golf cart. I always thought I had the right of way by being in a car but I certainly don't want to cause an accident, so I come to a complete stop at the corner I would like to make. I proceed when the golf cart has passed. Coming to a complete stop in the roadway to make a right turn is the same as coming to a compete stop in the roadway to make a left turn when there is oncoming traffic.

You sure about that?

Really? NON cars have the right of way? That is not what I instructed to do when I first moved to The Villages. Hmmmm.

My stand off, when I'm in my golf cart is at the gate crossings. Car drivers have a tendency to wave me on so I can cross in front of them. From what I have been told, cars have the right of way at the gate crossings. As a golf cart driver, I will turn my head to the right so I do not make eye contact with the driver of car who is waving me on. I refuse to proceed because it is the car driver who has the right of way to proceed through the gate. This is the only way I know to "teach" the car driver that cars have the right of way at the gate crossings. Golf carts must wait until it is clear to proceed at the gate crossings.

Just a couple of days ago, I was driving my golf car with my sister in the passenger seat. I stopped at the gate crossing and a car driver waved me on to proceed. I then turned my head to the right and my sister said to me, "he is waving you on. He wants you to go". I said, NOPE, I'm not going. I do this all the time to let the car drivers know CARS have the right of way at the gate crossings. It took that driver about 5 seconds to "get it" but finally he did proceed through the gate. There was no other car behind him so I proceeded after he went through the gate. Happens all the time but I stand firm.

Good advice , I do the same on roadways. What drives me goofy is people turning off the roadway into the villages entrance and stopping in traffic to allow a golf cart to cross in front of them, the cart has a stop sign before he crosses so he must wait for the car to pass.

Put it this way......unless you are on a hover board, it is IMPOSSIBLE not to cross the cart lane to make a turn in a car. LOL.

Car needs to wait.

I agree! That is the proper way to turn to avoid an accident. I wish more people would do it.

I received this same wisdom from a neighbor when new to the Villages. So that’s what I do, safely merge 1/2 way into the cart lane before arriving at the turn. Then no additional carts can come up to your blind spot. And signal, signal, signal! No secrets please!

John, you have been watching me, haven't you? I execute the very same maneuver, and I also travel St. Charles and turn right onto Pennecamp. With turn signals on and this execution, there is no way a golf cart driver will be cut off and damaged even if his thoughts are elsewhere.

Reality-A golf cart, an unlicensed vehicle is a second class individual. In most cases the car has the right of way. Assuming that all drivers know the law and will follow the law is of course a major reach.

A line of 8-10 golf carts. Sometimes it is a matter of courtesy sometimes called common sense. One golf cart can slow down and allow the car to safely make the turn
rather than forcing the car to cut one of the golf carts off.

The goal is, should be cooperation and everyone gets there without an accident. Even the term accident is misleading. Almost all accidents are avoidable.

As someone who drove and cycled in an area where bikes are much more common than here, yes, that is exactly what you do. If the car is in the bike lane turning right bikes going straight can then pass on the left.

It was even taught that way to my kids in driver’s Ed.

Dont compare yourself to police. They can violate traffic laws in certain situations. You cant!!

Ohiobuckeye
 

The thing I was a little disturbed about was it seemed to me that everyone seems to be in a big hurry to go nowhere. What’s the hurry! Cars & Carts don’t mix, car win 100% of the time. I always let the car or cart go first no matter which I was in. To me it seems like neither wants to wait on the other. Sorry, but that’s how I feel. Leave for your destination early even if you are early. Lots of HOT heads out there!

All you have to do is ride the white line with your car and your blinker on. That is just enough warning needed to let a cart know you are turning right across the golf cart lane.

Simple answer: WAIT