New Speed Limits
 

The Daily Sun reported yesterday that most current speed limits of 25 MPH will be reduced to 20 MPH in most parts of TV within Sumter County This change is to be effective Jan. 1, 2012.

I hope this means they are finally getting serious about making our streets safer. We claim to be the friendliest and soon to be the healthiest. Maybe someday we can be the safest drivers.

Darn...I missed that article. I recall Sumter commissioners were going to meet on this issue on the 26th.

OK, what about the neighborhood streets that are 15mph...are they going to be upped to 20mph???

Main streets like Canal, Bailey Trail, O'Dell etc will remain 30 mph?

I also read that article and was wondering the same thing. Will the 15 and 10s go to 20 or will they stay the same? Also what will this do for the golf cart paths? Will the interior roads at 20 do away with the golf cart lanes since everything will be limited to 20 MPH?

Glad to see the speed limited lowered as there are way to many drivers in a hurry. I only hope that the enforcement goes up as well.

Leave earlier, arrive safely and don't stress because you are in a hurry. I thought this was a retirement community. *S*

The article says 20mph on Sumter County roads in TV unless otherwise posted. The new ordinance goes into effect on existing roads on Jan 1, 2012 but is immediate for future designs. Main thoroughfares such as Morse and Buena Vista will not change, so I would say my best guess it that Odell, St, Charles and others that are higher than 20mph most likely would stay at that speed.

Interestingly one of the main reasons for the change is because the roads are golf cart accessible and the max speed for golf carts is 20mph.

The article is on page A-7 in the 7/27 Daily Sun. Hard to miss the headline.

Sumter approves Villages speed limit

The speeds on Sumter County roads in the Villages will be 20 mph unless otherwise posted. This is effective Jan 1 but the county could modify the speed limit for certain roads.

For the main roads, they do not plan on changing the speed limits.

I wish they would post these things on the districtgov.com website!!

I could be wrong (it's happened once or twice), but I think the general rule is:

1. If carts and cars are sharing the road with no separate cart path, everyone goes 20 mph.

2. If there is a cart path lane, cars go 30 mph except where cars and carts merge (see rule 1).

3. If carts are not allowed because there is a multimodal path available, cars go 35 mph.

That said, if you're in a small cart competing against a large car, YIELD! You may or may not be right but you will not win. I have been forced off the multimodal path by cars, passed on neighborhood roads and cutoff by cars making a right turn in front of me. Even if we keep up with the rules, visitors and snowbirds may not.

What are cars doing on the multimodal paths??

That was my thought when I looked in the mirror and shouted "Holy $hit" and pulled off the path to let the car pass. I think the driver forgot she wasn't in her golf cart and pulled into the path near the library. I followed to Parr Drive where she got back onto the road. It's not the first time this has happened.

When I was in the MP's I remember in one class where it was stated that 75% of drivers will drive at a "safe" speed regardless of what is posted. So that if their is a posted speed of 20 and most drivers are driving faster than that the speed limit is too slow for that particular road

John

So now as I'm driving 20 MPH in my car, I will be passed by LSV,NEV and souped up golf carts that don't have speedometers.

Oh great. Now the people who drive 20-25 in a 30 mile zone will now drive 10-15 in the 20 mile zone. I do not see this as being safe or sane.

Have to agree here - what's the hurry? Retirement is supposed to be savored, no?

Well, to have a retirement community you must have upkeep. People need contractors. Stores and restaurants need to be supplied. People need to get to work. An active community has social activities to attend. The world don't stop so someone can savor the moment, ya know!!!

I don't get it. I believe it's legal to drive a cart on a 25 mph road now. Why the change? For what reason?

AGREED!!! OMG, I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I can't believe everyone thinks 25mph is too fast. I might be relaxed but I don't want it to take me an hour to get everywhere. I'm just sayin....

Richie ... my guess is it's being done for consistency as much as safety. South of Lake Sumter all the neighborhood streets (residential) are 15 mph while many areas north of LSL have 25 in the residential neighborhoods. With golf carts allowed to go 20 and cars at 15 (which no one adheres to), I guess making residential uniformly 20 makes some sense.

By definition, according to Florida statutes, a golf cart must not be capable of speed in excess of 20 MPH. If it is capable of speed in excess of 20 MPH it must be registered, insured and equipped as a licensed motor vehicle.

The decision for the change to 20 MPH limits was in the hands of the County Commissioners. Not being present at the meetings that resulted in the decision, I have no way of knowing their reason. It would be interesting to hear from any TOTV member who was there.

Today...drove our golfcart from LSL over to SS on Morse. Our cart goes 19MPH at "full speed". I got passed and left in the dust, so to speak, by a handful of carts. I had to wonder just how fast they had to be going if I was going 19 and they were no longer in site! Mmmmmmm!!! They weren't behind me for long...but came upon me and passed. I had to wonder if they made it o.k. to wherever they needed to go so quickly!?!

On the streets that have the bike/cart path along the side---will the carts also be made to comply with the 20 mph? I would think so!! I'm all for safety and keeping the law, have to wonder why there are some who feel the need to question this and I'm sure this post will spark some to comment negatively!!

Unless I'm mistaken, carts are require to follow the posted speed limits, if on the streets. So, if the speed limit for cars is 15MPH, then it is 15MPH for the carts too. If cars are allowed faster than 20MPH, then carts are 20.

How many people drive 10MPH on Paige Pl. going into Spanish Springs? ...in a car or a cart? Sometimes, I believe the limits can be too slow and unreasonable. Therefore, they are not followed by anyone. Bicycles go faster than 10MPH... :smiley:

It's comical to read arguments about speed limits of 15, 20 and 25 mph, especially since most carts don't have speedometers anyway. How many people have the skill to determine the difference between 15 and 20 mph?
I don't think it can be enforced. You're just not going to have radar set up on the interior streets and if you did, everyone would know it was there.

They have set up radar on interior streets in the past and stopped a lot of cars and carts. I expect they will continue the practice.

BTW, Oak Forest is a favorite spot for both cars and carts. They park on a side street and their car is not visible then they stand on the street with a hand held. Very effective.

I stand corrected, I think.
What was the ticket for, 18 mph in a 15 zone? I still think it's like something from a cartoon. Imagine those speed demons!

Happened to me also when on a cartpath going pass Bridgeport to lake sumter Landing. I don't read the Daily sun so didn't read the article but if I read the posts correctly where there is a road/cartpath such as Canal, Bailey Trail, etc wil be reduced to 20mph. This reduction is only going to increase revenue for the police departments. Most cars can coast with their foot off the gas pedal and get over 20 unless their going up/downhill

20 MPH unless otherwise posted.....doubt if Canal & Bailey trail will be reduced.

Bogie Shooter...thank you.

You are a sick puppy...
 

The posts are not correct! Read the Sun. The Sun has the correct story.
Am I the only person to read the story?

ROBICON, you're still looking over your shoulder for the Leesburg P.D. Do you remember your post from April?

It is a 25 MPH zone. I have no idea how fast they were going. It is a heavily traveled residential street with numerous driveways. I suspect the residents will welcome the 20 MPH speed limit.

????
 

You didn't read it ( story in the "Sun" ) either... did you?

Sorry, BOMBERO, I don't understand your question. What story are you referring to and why do you think I failed to read it?

Dam straight not interested in contributing to the officers' beer fund. Watch them for two days pulling cars and carts over on Morse. But understand why they do it. There is so little crime in TV they have to pass the time somehow:D

I missed the Daily Sun article on speed limits this summer, but I've been hearing various reports of what people think will occur. Can anyone point me to something official I can read?

Read the three links under Item #1 of the following:
http://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Agenda...85/Agenda.html

I like the line about the police beer fund,very good. I also like the line about no crime in the villages so they have to do something. Right ON. I do think this is silly. I have been passed by bicycles on more than one occasion.20-25 fine for golf carts.

OMG!!:oops::oops:

Herv, aren't you supposed to be on your way to TV? You have to be there in 2 days or are you flying? GL and have fun. See you soon.:wave:

Herv, What ever you do don't speed!:gc::eek:

Let see: I bought a street leagal golf car, paying for registration, cost of car insurance, now I can only go 20mph. Wow great decision. :crap2:

Leaving
 

Yea no speeding! We are flying down Friday night, Design team Saturday and Sunday. Jim has my cell number.

Gee-A smart car would fit on those cart trails by accident! There smaller than a Gem!

I can't imagine looking in the rear view mirror and seeing car lights coming at us.:crap2:

WOW!

OK, Bottomline....
 

the new ordinance only changes the speed limits on currently unmarked roads. This limit had been 25 it would now be 20 mph, that is the only change being made....big deal! :loco:
Boy! people's reading skills have really gone downhill :-)

That is exactly right, but its called the 85 percentile speed. In New York State, where I'm from, the police do radar studies to determine the speed (85th percentile) that the majority of drivers are going, and post the speed limits accordingly.

People falsely believe that if the speed limit is lowered artificially i.e. below what everyone is doing, then it will somehow be safer. What actually happens is that you'll get some people who obey the new speed limit, and many who drive the speed that they feel comfortable at given the conditions, which may be higher than the speed limit. This of course causes conflict and an increase in accidents or decrease in safety.