If you drive a cart - please read this
 

I've only been here a few months, but today I saw 2 carts traveling together try to make a left had turn FROM THE CART LANE in front of a BIG TRUCK going the same direction as the carts. The truck almost crushed them. Happened in front of Bonifay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the cart move into the car lane and signal a left hand turn before making the left hand turn?? I've seen this happen three time now.

You're right, they're wrong but YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!!!! sigh

Drives me crazy when I see golf carts making left turns from the golf cart lane. Is that how they drive their cars too, making left turns from the right lane?? I also have seen so many close calls. Yesterday someone did that exact move right in front of us while we were driving our golf cart on St. Charles Street. A rather large truck pulling a trailer had to hit the brakes hard in order to avoid hitting them. Naturally, that truck was along side of us and I worried that he would swerve into us to avoid the idiot.

A little bit off topic but what is bothersome to me is carts turning right prior to entering a tunnel that waits until the last minute to signal a right turn while I'm sitting at the tunnel exit not knowing if the are going straight or turning right. Please signal a little earlier if this pertains to you.

Btw, I always make a left turn from the vehicle lane. Sometimes you have to slow down and wait for a brake in traffic.

John

I saw a car almost hit a cart broadside as it made a right turn into Bonifay Country Club as the golf cart was proceeding westbound on Pinellas. It was a very close call as the golf cart slammed on its brakes. You have to be alert out there!

Does it make sense to consider putting seat belts on a golf cart? The passenger side seems to offer little (no?) protection if the cart driver suddenly has to swerve to avoid an accident, or swerves suddenly for any reason.

Gene

Just after we arrived we saw a lady ALMOST fall out of a cart when she was looking right and her male partner decided to take a hard left. He grabbed her some how and drug her back into the cart. I took our cart in the next week and had 4 seatbelts added (2 on the rear facing back seat) and we buckle up before moving. About every other day in the paper you read about someone getting "EJECTED" from a cart during an accident. I'll take my chances strapped in the cart. I don't use the belt on the golf course.

Where did you buy your golf cart seat belts, and where did you have them installed? Not looking for a cheap solution; rather, a safety-oriented solution.

Gene

I wouldn't trust the fact a cart had their signal on that they were turning. I've seen carts going down the road for miles with their signal on and not realizing it.

Red,
You have a way with words. :beer3:

My favorite saying
 

I have a shirt that says "Stupidity is not a crime you are free to go."
And it seems that your cart driver falls into that catagory Stupid but free to go.

Did you not know:

Traffic control devices do not pertain to Golf Carts. :clap2::D:1rotfl:

I think the seats belts are a great idea. I got mine installed at Villages Golf Carts in LSL. Took maybe 15 minutes.

The Villages Golf Car installed them at the Sumter Landing store. I think they were 29 each installed.

Someone should write a book. Rules of the road for Carts & Dummies.

I would buy one when I visit.

OK....I have to chime in here. Is it dangerous, Yes. Is it stupid, No.

Many folks believe it to be illegal to cross a solid white line and have stated that it was illegal in the state from which they came. The line is a solid white line.

In another thread, many folks said it was stupid or illegal for a car to cross that same line to make a right hand turn to avoid a collision with a cart. But, you said it was ok to cross it when you actually made the turn. So, is this not the exact same maneuver the cart is making from the cart lane?

Can't have it both ways....

You're right but I am referring to those drivers who don't have their turn signal on.

John

While the situation you present is annoying, at least it's not dangerous.

One of the problems might be that, like my cart, there is a delay when turning on the directionals. I move the lever up or down and there is often 5-10 seconds until the light starts flashing. It's difficult to adjust to this because I'm so used to driving the car where they come on immediately.

I have seen comments in similar threads that people think it is illegal to cross a white line, so maybe some cart drivers are reluctant to move in to the left lane?

But that is certainly no excuse for not choosing a safe time to do so.

I have also observed other carts not using turn signals at entrances to tunnels. What I hate most about the rental, or loaner carts are there are no signal reminders on the turn signals. I have to remind myself to recheck after each turn.

Yes. Not with the idea of it helping in an accident like you do in a car but just to give a little extra security to the passenger.

I think a big part of the problem is we all need to be educated on the rules for driving carts and for driving cars where carts are present. However there will always be inexperienced driver coming to the community so you just have to expect that not everyone knows the rules and you have to be extra careful in a cart.

While everyone is sharing observations...
I have seen several (men and women) talking on cell phones while driving their cart.
Watched a lady in my neighborhood try to pull into her driveway, put on her signal (but not until she had started to make the turn, as giving advance warning would be unfair) while balancing her phone. I was behind her and once I saw the phone I gave her loads of room. She almost lost the phone but after several shoulder movements (is there a TV club called cell phone balancing yet) and a few unusual jerks on the steering wheel, she managed to get the cart in the driveway.
I would imagine there is no rule about driving while on the cell phone and that common sense rules the day. I pull over when I get a call as I think that is the common sense thing to do. But then, I havn't been to the Cell Phone Balancing Club yet!!

I got to experience 1st hand riding in a car (not cart) with a snowbird today. They are fairly new coming here and for a short period of time with each. Anyway, it was scarey especially on the roundabouts. I think so many "new" folks are so unaccustomed to how to drive here---be it in a car or a cart.

Cell-phones should be againest the law for drivers anywhere. MOST times you will see irradict driving and if you could see the driver they're either texting, reading a text OR talking on their phones!!! NO call or THAT important that you can't let it go to voice-mail for later! Whatever did you do before the invention of cellphones anyway???

Apparently the Florida Legislature is going to address this issue in the upcoming legislative session. I received a questionaire from my state senator asking "Do you think the use of handheld cell phones while driving should be banned in Florida?"

If you want to make your opinions know, call your local state representative or senator.

Turn Signals
 

Your signals should come on as soon as you move the lever, the same as your car. Either the flasher is bad or the switch isn't making immediate contact. Could also be a bad ground.
I used to work on carts all the time but gave it up. Sometimes the flasher will heat up before it starts to work properly. If you have LED lights and a regular flasher that maybe your problem also. LED lights require an electronic flasher.

I agree. It's wrong to call these folks "stupid". They may be uninformed about the proper way to merge from the diamond lane in order to make a left hand turn...here in The Villages...but that doesn't make them stupid or idiots or any other offensive term. As Memason pointed out, there have been several discussions here on TOTV (amongst long-time full-timers) about the legality of crossing the solid white line in order to pass a slower vehicle. To the best of my knowledge, that question has never been answered, based on Florida law.

Today I saw two ladies in a golf cart on St Charles. They were sitting in the diamond lane, with the the left blinker on, waiting for a break in heavy traffic from both directions so they could turn left. If I could have safely stopped my car and explained to them the proper merging and turning procedures, I would have. But I couldn't, so I drove on by and mentally wished them luck. I don't think they were stupid. I think they were trying to do what they thought was correct.

I got my belts from Grandpas and Grammas but it was with a cart. Call around to different people who sell or service carts.

Education Needed
 

...

First read -- http://www.districtgov.org/community...rtBrochure.pdf
Then golf cart school
Good golf school would also be a good idea

The rules for golf carts are the same as automobiles and bicycles all have application to the rules of the Road.

A diamond lane has he solid white line to define it establishing its widith for use by the golf cart driver. It is designated for golf carts. it is why I mentioned in another thread that an autombile should not be occupying space in a diamond lane. In this other thread one auto driver indicated she pulls into the diamond lane before making her turn. This is a violation of the rules pf the road.

A golf cart intending to merge with the main flow of traffic must signal 100 feet before the merger or turning and then proceed.

I suspect the solid white line would help in an investigation of a car and cart collided ( sideswept type accident). what I mean is that a witness may be able to say to an investigting office the car/cart moved over the solid white line.

One poster wrote that you can't trust a signal on a golf cart and he was right. some golf carts do not have an audible sounding signal and since the signal arm does not automatically snap back in place like a car . I know because as hard as I try to remember I am guilty of that sin of commission
Mea Culpa.

Can 3 people ride in a golf cart at TV? I have 2 guests for 2 days.

I don't trust any signals, golf cart or cars.

Yes you can. Pack em in.

I believe in them, and I got my installed by Villages Golf Carts in LSL. It took less than 20 minutes.:thumbup:

this link shows how bad things can be if you play "stupid"
Ultimate Golf Fails | Chuck the Putter

Looks like some of those probably resulted in serious injuries.

Yeah, but further brain damage is debatable.

Straight from the Florida Driver's Handbook

Solid White Line
A solid white line marks the right edge of the roadway or separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. You may travel in the same direction on both sides of this line, but you should not cross the line unless you must do so to avoid a hazard.

So, I would say crossing the white line to prepare to turn left would be avoiding a hazard and therefore legal.

You would think people would do this. Most Villagers do so they must be renters, or visitors. They will learn the hard way I guess.