Turning Left from the golf cart lane
 

On roads like duval and Canal street, I think:

You should get into the car lane with your turn signal on or arm out indicating your intent to turn left.



I see some folks turn from the golf cart lane straight across the car lane and turn all in one motion. Looks dangerous to me when they do that.

Anyone know the real skinny on this.

That is what I do, pull over into car lane after I have signaled that I want to move into that lane and wait until it is clear. Then I keep left turn signal on and make my left turn. Very dangerous to try and turn from golf cart lane.

You should "always" get into the car lane (after making sure it's clear of course) when making a left turn. When you indicate a left turn you should us both your arm and signal light. When in "mixed" traffic---on a street---making a right turn it would be prudent to use both signals in this advent as well.

Too many folks take too many chances here in my opinion AND don't take heed of what's around them!!

Might be a good idea
 

Although I am sure it is not a rule, it might be a good practice for cars making a right hand turn to make it, at least partially, from the golf cart lane. This would avoid golf carts "t-boning" cars and cars doing the same to carts. Carts are supposed to yield to cars in the instance of a car turning right, but all too often that does not happen.

Like NotGolfer, we always make left hand turns from the car lane - use both the turn signal and arm signal.

Merging with vehicle traffic and using your signal is what's recommended in the Golf Cart Safety brochure:

http://www.districtgov.org/community...rtBrochure.pdf

Bill :)

Bill n brillo spot on. However it seems there is always one or two drivers that are determined to jump ahead of you. Sooo i always stick my arm out earlier on rather than just before the merging white lines.

I didn't emphasize the merging aspect! But golfcarts should always defer to the cars having the right of way!!

I agree with car signalling and then moving into the diamond lane to make a right turn. Don't know if Florida law speaks to this. I find it very dangerous when a car rushes around my cart to beat me to the corner so that he can make a right turn. IMO the rear approaching car shoud signal a right, fall in behind the cart and then turn. This would be the procedure if a car were in the left lane of a 2 lane road.

Does anyone have a reference on the Florida or county laws on this issue?

I agree with the previous posters. I signal, both turn signals and hand signals and merge into the car lane when making a left turn. There were a few instances where there was a golf cart stopped in the golf cart lane and just as I was checking my mirrors to see if it was clear to move over, the golf cart shot across the street to make a left turn. Gave me a couple of scares.

I also agree that when in my car and wishing to make a right turn, I signal and move over partially into the golf cart lane to make shure that the Golf cart drivers know that I am making a right turn.

I actually saw a golf course ranger make a left turn from the cart lane. I really thought they would know better. This is an extremely dangerous maneuver.

Here's a similar but different scenario I've wondered about:

How about a cart going northbound on Morse Blvd. in the cart lane, getting ready to turn right onto Rio Grande Ave.?

There, the automobile right-turn lane is closest to the curb, and the golf cart lane is to the left of the auto lane (so carts can continue straight). At this (unusual) right turn for carts, is the cart supposed to get over into the automobile right-turn lane to make its right turn? Otherwise the cart would have to cut to the right in front of cars in their right-turn lane.

I've always pulled the cart into the auto lane for my right turn (after checking in advance that all is clear to merge right), but I keep expecting some crabby car driver to yell at me about it.

I disagree with your last sentance. For example, there are signs on Morse Blvd that indicate that cars should yield to carts when turning right.

I move into the right turn lane to make the right hand turn. I would stay in the golf cart lane if I wanted to go straight. That is the safest scenario.

Ditto.

Bill :)

Ditto. I would think that is what is supposed to happen according to the signs.

Both the car lane and Cart lane are lanes, so if you cross from cart lane to turn left you must yield to the car in the car lane.

If you cross from car lane to turn right, you must yield to the cart in the cart lane.


I THINK.

And then this happened to me...

I'm southbound on St. Charles and have moved from the diamond lane into the car lane to turn left into Sterling Heights Rec Center. I'm fairly close to the center line. While I'm waiting for oncoming traffic to pass so a I can turn left, the car waiting behind me gets impatient and passes me on my right by using half the car lane and all the diamond lane.

Been there!

(Note: I think you mean Sterling not Seabreeze. Seabreeze is on Bailey and BV.)

Roger that! I corrected my post.

At a POA meeting Lieutenant Bobby Caruthers, Sumter County Sherrif's Office replied to a question that it was perfectly legal for a vehicle to cross into the diamond lane in order to pass another vehicle making a left hand turn, as long as it was safe to do so. That would also appear to be the critical point for a golf cart passing another golf cart on the street, "as long as it's safe to do so."

Common sense will always make sense!

Golf Carrs and bicycles are required to follow the Rules of the road regarding
passing yield to, signals,etc. So while traveling in a daimond lane they are required to stay within the white line and the curb, they are required to singal 100 feet before turning and they are required to merge from the diamond lane to the main lane beforing making a left turn.

The problems result because car operators show little respect or patience with golf carts....or....golf cart operators are just too caution leaving auto drivers confused on what the golf cart operators intentions are


For those who often use on/off ramps on interstates know that you cannot hesitate but proceed on or off timiing the rythmn of the traffic flow.