Golf Cart turn signals (blinkers NOT hands signals). Outlaw them completely.
 

This may look or sound like a troll post but it really isn't meant to be. More like a rant and a safety warning. Having turn signals on golf carts is, in reality is both useless and dangerous.

At this point when I see a golf cart with a turn signal on when (for example) I am pulling out of my street or any street either in my cart or my car and the cart coming towards me has his right signal on the chances of him ACTUALLY taking a right turn is probably 80% which means if I pull out there is a 20% chance he (or she) is going to t-bone me.

I see this time after time. One has to assume the turn signals on the cart are on by mistake and assume the cart is going straight regardless of his signal. This obviously doesn't apply to everyone but even assuming 5% of them are on by mistake it makes it dangerous to assume ANY are actually turning when they are signalling.

What bought this on was today while walkng from Amelia to LSL (down O'Dell then on the Morse MMP to LSL) my wife and I counted FIVE CARTS on the O'Dell and Morse MMP passing by us with forever on turn signals out of probably 15 or 20.

So what good is having a turn signal if you can't trust it? Better that NO CART has one. I mean the number of signals left on for literally miles is amazing. YES, CARS DO IT AS WELL but very rarely do I see a car driving with endless turn signals (although sometimes they turn them on about 1/2 mile before the turn! :D

At least if NO ONE used them you would HAVE to wait until the cart either turned or passed. Yea, I know it is impossible to retroactively remove them all but everyone may as well not use them as they are totally worthless if they can't be "trusted" 98% of the time.

Hand signals (if you know them) are fine but stop using those useless "blinkers."

Good point. That's why I got self cancelling.

Not to blame our seasonal residents, but I have seen a lot more carts driving with their signals on as our seasonal resident population has increased. They 1) do not realize the signals are not self-cancelling, 2) cannot hear the signal beeping over the cart motor. What surprises me are the number of “younger” drivers driving with the signal on. I am not talking about teenagers…

Agree.
 

Golf cart blinkers are a nice idea that hasn't made the grade. They are typically non-cancelling, tiny after thoughts that transmit a dangerous lie to those waiting to see if the cart is really going to turn or not.
I never pull out in front of an approaching cart, blinker or not. They absolutely cannot be trusted. Sorry, ****ed off driver behind me honking. I will not let you try to intimidate me into a potential accident, and shame on you for ever thinking you have the right to do so.

Exactly what happens. I am always tempted to wave them by and then let them get waffled. :D

For us, and since we walk every day, it is just as bad all year but the best chuckle is when you see a group of 3 all with "forever signals." on trucking down the MMP. :)

We have self cancelling on one cart and lights in front of our face blinking on the other cart to remind us to turn them off. When pulling out I always figure people are going straight so I wait.

I don't ever trust turn signals on any vehicle until I see them actually commit to turning. Also the self canceling mechanism for signals on carts are finicky and sometimes need to be adjusted or replaced.

Wine wine wine

ABSOLUTELY! If you are at all familiar with the villages, give golf carts a wide birth and just give them a break if you're in a car or another golf cart.
If in doubt, wait it out! There should be some legal requirements for people selling golf carts for the Villages to have signals that are too obvious to leave on after the turn. Our cart has lights in the side mirrors that don't always suffice. After a few hundred more hours behind the wheel of the cart I might always remember to turn it off after the turn.

:welcome:

This is some major first world problems.

Yea. Especially if you get hit by a Mack Truck.

Who sang that?
 

"You make me feel so fine. You keep me rocking all of the time".

Self-cancel is great but are meaningless to resolve this issue because if many others never shut them off whether yours does or doesn't won't resolve the general problem.

LOL,you might want to check this out first before attemting to make an intelligent comment like that Homophones| Merriam-Webster. I assume you mean WHINE ... or maybe not because all that WINE can get you killed when driving. :1rotfl:

Yea, especially when you pull out of a street in a cart OR a car because you see a cart coming down the diamond lane with it's right turn signal on but then goes straight without turning. You might find that to be a problem no matter what world you may live in.

Well ,OP everything you said is true but there really is no solution. It’s very similar to turn signals being used in roundabouts. If you trust them you are an idiot so why do people even use them. At least 25% don’t use them properly and besides if you are in the correct lane for your exit all should flow properly

Where are you going in such a hurry, you can’t wait for a cart to go buy?

Turn Signals
 

Great thought, we have self canceling turn signals on one cart and I am currently retrofitting the other with self canceling signals.

Bill
 

I bought turn signal beepers at the Village’s golf cart store for 7 or 8 dollars each and installed them myself. They are so load and annoying one must turn off the signal to silence them.

Did you mean, “Whine, whine, whine”? If not, I’d like come Cabernet.

It's not the turn signals fault, it's the drivers. They should be 'cancelled'. If they don't know to turn them off as soon as they make the turn, they shouldn't be driving. My turn signals make noise (which I at first thought was annoying) and a light inside that flashes when they are on. Too many people on the road who can't see or hear or remember the signal is still on.

About 22 1/2 years ago I made several posts about turn signal flashers for golf carts that beep loudly when on. They are $10.00 or less on Amazon. They are so annoying you will be glad to turn the signal off after the turn. If everyone got one of these, it would greatly reduce this issue.

Not sure how it's any different than the drivers riding their blinkers while in their on road vehicles or not paying attention to right of way at 2 and 4 way stops. Assume "the other guy" will not do the right thing and drive accordingly. Simple!

No different then for villagers that drive cars as you never know if they are really going to turn or not - I assume that they may not and thus wait till they commit one way or the other

Beer beer beer

This is really petty.

As bad as "blinkers" are, at least you can see them after dark. Self-canceling helps but there will always be exceptions. Being attentive is the best approach.

This is true with cars too. How many cars have their right hand turn signals on and instead of turning they go straight. I like turn signals on both golf carts and cars and I will always wait until the car/cart coming toward me slows down before I trust them

Cars Too
 

I’ve had the same thought about cars. Not enough drivers use them and, as you noted, sometime the signal is left on or turned on too early. Simply ban all turn signaling devices on moving vehicles.

Turn signals ? Do they have them in Florida ?

Knowing that blinker signals are not trustworthy, simply DO NOT pull out in front of one unless you have plenty of distance to do so. Who cares if you have to wait an additional 20 seconds?

You can’t control what other drivers do. Assume they are not paying attention and YOU will drive defensively!

Your “imperial” science is questionable- plus thank you for telling me what to and how to drive!!

I believe it's sung by UB40 !:)

I Wonder...
 

...if this is a problem for the roadways or the golf courses. I feel more anxious while golfing for some reason.

Better yet........
 

If Yamaha made turn signals that automatically went off after the turn was made (like cars/trucks), this would solve 99% of the problem.

Golf Cart Signals
 

I think the newer carts have self-canceling. I also understand that if you pull out in front of a vehicle (because you thought they were turning) you are at fault, not the vehicle with the turn signal on that did not turn. As said above, never proceed into the intersection until the vehicle with the turn signal on has committed to the turn. Otherwise, you will be at fault for the accident. (This is true in Michigan - Maybe Florida is different)

????
 

I'll bet that 99% of the "forever" signals are simply because drivers did not cancel after making a turn. No on turns on the blinker for no reason. Self-canceling turn signals would solve 99% of the issue...........and 1% of automobiles have this issue as well.

That's "Red Red Wine"... (but Neil Diamond sang it first...)

This happened to me in my car, guy had directional on, I pulled out, he hit me.....He was turning at the NEXT street, not where I was. That was years ago, since then I never trust a directional, I'll wait until they either turn or pass..... same goes for golf carts.