The crazies were out tonight.
 

I know you have all heard every story before but driving around in the cart was interesting. First an impatient driver in front of me fulls out to pass a line of carts when a cart up in front starts to wave people around him, needless to say other carts pull out to pass and the driver in front of me came close to causing an accident. Later I am at a road crossing when I check to see if any cars are coming off a rotary of Buena Vista but instead I see a golf cart coming from the rotary and pull in front of me. Guessing the 2 gents had been drinking or something else as the driving was erratic. Next as following them, someone decides they are going to pass the line of carts but can’t get past all of them so they decide to go left of the upcoming island and pass everyone as we are on the correct side of the island. This is one I have never seen. How this didn’t end in an accident I am not sure. Finally as I got closer to home a cart catches up to me and as I turn from the path to go into a village, this cart heads out onto Buena Vista. Probably just a normal day in the life of a Villager but I found it interesting as we were enjoying our ride. I for one don’t think there should be any passing in a golf cart since they are all suppose to go the same speed but that is not for me to decide.

This kind of golf cart driving is going to give some of those involved heart attacks.

This should all go away in June.

Tailgating a cart is also not a good idea!

There was a story yesterday in V-N about a Villager driving a car in a roundabout, who took umbrage at the act of another driver who apparently honked at him for going too fast. Villager stopped his vehicle (maybe in the roundabout but I'm not sure) and proceeded to physically aggress against the car of the driver who did the honking, also slamming the door on him twice as the honker tried to get out of his car. Finally the Villager got into his car and drove away (point made, I guess) only Driver #2 immediately called 911. The cops were able to locate the guy who tried to lie his way out of it but when faced with the fact that the entire incident was caught on camera, finally admitted to the deed. He is charged with a 3rd. degree felony for physical aggression against a person over age 65.

It is not just snowbirds who are "crazy" around here.

Sounds like Mr Toad’s Wild Ride!

I see it everyday riding my bike on the golf cart paths, at least one head on accident almost happens from stupid people, beware and grow eyes in back of your head

I think people who honk don’t realize that if they honk too close to a person, they startle them - and they may actually run into them. Maybe a soft touch on the horn just to let someone know you’re there.

I see the following possible problems with the carts; new drivers, the neighbor across from me rents to a couple who have no car and use the cart everywhere but they never drove one before. And another (not close) neighbor who used his cart for many years had brain surgery, some of his brain was actually cut out relatively recently, could not walk at first, could not talk, is now trying out his cart again.
Update: another neighbor walked by, got into his cart and I guess took the recovering neighbor wherever he wanted to go…whew!

Good for him! I've seen folks with half a brain driving for decades.

We can only hope.
Is there someway to move it to April to file their taxes
and get home for Easter.

crazy has become the new normal, and you have to wonder who's packin' too!

Much adoo about nothing

You probably know these types of things (and many others, such as deliberate destroying of golf course turf) are usually ALL blamed on "snowbirds". I do believe that is a high percentage, but certainly not for all. The Villages is a powerful "resort" magnet for vacationers, not just a residential community. The number of Air B&B, and similar type of commercial rental for income, grows everyday. It's a fact. People who come to spend a week, two weeks, a month, for a few thousand dollars, of course are going to look at it like any other all inclusive "resort". Their rental includes a golf cart, they may have never driven a golf cart in their life, many have never played golf, or tennis, or even shuffleboard. They are on vacation and are going to take advantage of "what they are paying for" to the fullest... even things they have never tried before. This does not account for ALL the erratic driving (carts and autos), much is a result of loosened inhibitions (excessive alcohol... many people who are very moderate drinkers, will increase that at a resort, on a cruise, etc. Same here. But I personally do not see ALL of this as a result of the "snowbirds". We definitely have a mix of people; personalities and sense of responsibility differ WIDELY. I don't know how that can be changed. I do not think it possible or practical, given what police are facing presently with shortages, but IF it were possible to "catch" and fine, speeding, reckless, intoxicated, and just plain irresponsible drivers of golf carts, and auto too, I think we would see a decline in this type of "wild" behavior. Sometimes just the "word of mouth" concerning an increase in tickets, fines, a "crack down" as it is called, is enough to result in a significant decrease. On this subject, what about the high number of tandem vehicles, big trucks with one, even TWO trailers attached, consistently driving in the GOLF CART LANES as well as their own lane of the street.. and rarely at or below the speed limit. It's constant on Belvidere, it's a daily thing. Have never seen a single one pulled over and ticketed... maybe it does happen, I just have never been there at the right time to see it. Also the incident on Buena Vista, not far from Laurel Manner. Truck at a very high rate of speed, went out of control, crashed through a CONCRETE WALL, and into the yard of a resident. Personally I think it is well known that reckless driving and speeding is tolerated here. Maybe we would be better off if were were a well known "speed trap".... word about such towns, communities, always gets around, especially with truckers.

JUNE! :eek:
I thought it was in April; please don't change it to June! :cryin2:

I think the STOP signs in the villages are defective, they don't work at all.

Stay in your lane. Folks are angry and are just waiting to release that anger towards anything or anyone. In comes someone who ignites that powder keg and it escalated. Now 3rd degree felony. Smart, very smart.

Lots of potential open tee times.

Don't bring a knife to....
 

what's the problem
WHAT STATE?

Crazy driver
 

My wife observed a car passing another on Enrique. What's the rush?

Much Ado until it happens to you!

It seems if we can’t control ourselves we need a little help! A little proactive policework might go a long way for improving the golf cart driving conditions throughout the villages all year long!

First...
Don't believe everything you read in TVN. 2nd....don't believe everything you read in TVN! It's like reading the comics! They "report" but there are no real officer statements, etc. Should be your first indication it's fake.

Go slow, get passed
 

Some people loaf along at 15-16 mph. When it's safe I'll pass. What's really bad is when they see they are getting passed they suddenly drive faster. In the limited areas where you can pass this creates a dangerous situation. The right way to handle this is to move to the right, slow down a bit and wave the other cart around. Why some people take it personal when they are getting passed I don't understand.

Doesn't anyone know how to use paragraphs?

TV is a joy to drive around if you’re coming from the concrete jungle.

A very good piece of advice , be aware of who is behind you and what is around you, as a courtesy and good sense if you poking along at a leisurely pace and carts come up behind pull over and let them pass. Same applies to roadways if you are not aware of your surroundings you are a hazard slower, always. traffic stay in the right hand lane .my pet peeve two cars side by side blocking others. Too many want to control your behavior good or bad.

the reason they get mad is they think you are " cutting the line"

Passing a golf cart is illegal. Why? Because in crossing the solid line you are in the legal line of traffic. Only legally authorized vehicles are allowed in that lane. Therefore you could be charged with operating an unregistered, uninsured, etc. vehicle. Don't believe me? Ask anyone that got pulled over for going too fast and ask how much it cost! They weren't charged for speeding.

Do you pass slower drivers in a car?
 

The other day I was following an older couple in a golf cart having a leisurely drive at 12 MPH. Carts were backing up behind them with carts behind me tailgating me. Yes, I passed as soon as it was safe. I can't say that the rest passed when it was safe. Unless you're going to ticket for people driving to slow, or mandating a minimum speed limit, pay for extra police, understand that people will do what they will do. Be happy and enjoy the show.

I am really surprised that someone is not killed every day in the Villages. I see lots of crazy stupid stuff. What bugs me the most is people walking in parking lots and not paying any attention to what is going on around them. Oh and when you are backing out of a parking spot and you are half way out and someone walks right behind you or a cart drives past right behind you!

Try riding a bike with these idiots around.

You know it's illegal to pass another golf cart in the golf cart lane on the street? A couple of months ago a Villager got a ticket from a Sumpter police officer for doing just that. So if you are behind another cart thats going slow, even if they wave you on you can't pass them.

THAT bugs me too....and the folks in cars in parking lots that think they're on the street so are going, what looks like road speed.
The other day I was on 466a....was in the left lane (to pass the line of traffic in the right lane) when all of a sudden the left lane slowed---waaaayyyy down. I couldn't move over due to the heavy traffic. When I finally could, the slow-ness was being caused by a elderly human who by my guesstimate was going maybe 25/30 mph and never moved over. When I passed---I waved them along but it didn't help anything but my angst. Then I read my social media from "up north" and the threads could be from here. It's NOT just in The Villages that people drive nuts. It's becoming universal!!

You are allowed to cross the solid white lane to get around a hazard and to make a left turn. You are also combining two separate issues. Speeding and crossing the solid white line. The last published incident was a lady in a cart went over the solid white line to pass and was written a citation for crossing the solid white line. Apparently she was going under 20 MPH because she was not charged with all the related unregistered vehicle charges.

Peak
 

Right about now is the peak of “crazy “ season.

June
 

The exodus begins in a few weeks and breathing room will return.

This has all the markings of a "Next Door" post.........

People don’t know how to drive correctly on the freeway. Do you really believe they know how to drive correctly on a turnabout. Or in a golf cart multipath lane ?

In TV the criterion is not how much they know. In all too many cases it is what they've forgotten or have lost the capability to do. There are too many folks here whose driving skills have diminished to the point where they are a definite danger to themselves and others.

GARYWT, you might as well just put up with it & prevent getting your butt whipped. It’s just life! No place is perfect, even in TV, Florida. Some people can think they’re more important than anyone else or they were brought up that way to be disrespectful or thinking they’re #1.

"...they are all suppose to go the same speed" So in other words, if you are putzing along at 15 mph, all the other carts should be going 15 mph, yes???