Vehicle's in the cart lane.
 

In the last week, I've seen several vehicle's attempting to turn left off a street, drift right, over into the cart lane, and almost clip the carts coming up beside them. PAY ATTENTION!!!

I 've seen it a couple times. I don't know what's up with that or they speed up in front of a cart to make the next right turn as if it's a contest. Be carefull out there.:shrug:

I have seen it many times. There are a lot of crazy drivers out there who do not pay attention to carts on there right....assume each one will turn in front of you!!

Automobiles driving on multi-modal paths has been a common occurrence for many years here. some drivers are new and that explains their unfamiliarity. Some forget whether they are driving a car or a cart. A few are DUI

I think the bigger problem is that many people have either forgotten how to make a left turn, or never knew in the first place. The "drift right to turn left" crowd is one segment, and it is growing. The only vehicle that MAY need to drift right is a double trailer 18 wheeler, everyone else can stay in their lane, your turning radius is more than adequate. The other segment is those that cut the turn short and run across the lane of traffic approaching the intersection from their left. I can't count how many times a left turning car has almost hit me as I approach the intersection because they are literally on my side of the road. I have seen someone narrowly miss the far left curb because they cut it THAT short. For them, I like the lines that delineate a lane for staying in the turn. If not, I favor LEO sitting there and handing out fistfuls of tickets. No fine, 4 hour mandatory driver education refresher class.

The other side of that coin. Car has right turn signal on. Golf cart in golf cart lane. Car slows down. Golf cart slows down. Car driver has to either speed up to turn right on front of cart or Stop in the road while the golf cart driver decides what to do. The design requires the driver to turn right from the "passing" lane.

There must be some rule as to who has the right of way in that situation. I don't know it, do you? My guess would be the cart has the right of way, since the car has to enter "his" lane to make that right turn, but that's just a guess. Remember, the #1 cause of accidents is failure to yield the right of way. The other problem is the reverse---people who have the right of way trying to yield it to another vehicle---it just causes the very confusion you describe

Someone posted around six months ago - sorry, can't find who - that it is legal for cars wanting to turn right to cross the white line and move in to the multimodal lane (if it is safe to do so) before the junction.

I have rarely seen this done, but it does avoid the problem described above.

Does anyone know if this is really legal?

Being new here I saw that issue myself when wanting to make a right turn and wondering what the rule was. I looked to my right to make sure no golf carts were coming, but I was uncomfortable with the situation. When you are newly here, there are issues with the circles and adjusting to them but I drive slowly through them to make sure everyone is yielding when required, etc. However, many times have people in my trunk without regard to someone who may be new here and not know the ropes. Since most people here are retired, I wonder what the rush is!!

There are also the impatient ones - a car is stopped , trying to make a left turn and the car behind can't wait so they pass the stopped car on the right side, using the golf cart lane...

If I am driving my car and need to make a right turn, if there is sufficient distance till the turn, I will pass the golf cart and use my turn signal ( a novelty here in The Villages for cars and carts ) and move partially into the cart lane. Otherwise, I will slow down and let pace the golf cart and make the right turn behind him.

My pet peeve is when a car driver suddenly wakes up and realizes that a golf cart is next to him when he wants to make a right turn. Car stops not knowing what to do. Golf cart stops cause he doesn't trusts the driver's next move. Everyone behind stops till things get sorted out.

I don't know what's legal,but if I had one hand on the Bible...there are two places I tend to drive in the cart lane. One as soon as you go past the gate entering hillsborough from buena vista. I turn onto cosmos which is a very short distance. Carts come around the corner onto hillsborough without the need to yield because they have their own lane. If no carts are there, I hug middle between the two lanes. The other place is on hillsborough between warlock and the mail boxes. Virtually the same circumstances. I am in both locations frequently in the cart and car so I am cautious.

I've been making right turns this way for a couple of years, it takes away all doubt of where and when you intend to turn. Golf carts merge into the car lane, why not cars merge into the cart lane.

Since I live off St. Charles, a road with golf cart paths on both sides, it makes a lot of sense. I often see cars and carts doing the turn dance at Buttonwood Run and Pennecamp. If you see a line of golf carts and you are going to make a right turn, look for a gap ahead, if necessary speed up or slow down and slide your car slightly to the right and engage your turn signal. The carts behind you now know what you're doing and there won't be this hesitation and cars behind you won't be delayed as much. Don't move completely into the lane, just a couple of feet over the line is enough to telegraph your intentions.

The 'rule' is COMMON COURTESY.....


Its good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.
~Mark Twain

A simple and great solution to the problem. I also live off St. Charles. I never considered this manuver when turning right, but I will be doing it from now on. Of course, only after making sure that there is not a cart directly beside me.