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....