Tips for driving in The Villages
 

After 6 months here, I know this is like nowhere else for driving, due to golf cart traffic, construction, we are old, and odd infrastructure.
This thread is an opportunity to post your very best POSITIVE ideas for promoting safe, efficient traffic.

Suggest you give only one idea per post to give everyone a chance.

SUGGESTION: RESIDENTS SHOULD USE THE VISITOR GATE
My suggestion is that residents use the visitor gate when it would be more efficient to do so. Often I find a line at the resident gate and no one at the visitor gate. By using the visitor gate, which responds to the electronic card just the same, both gates can be operating, thus speeding the flow of traffic.
And I favor using some visitor gates when it's just me going through because they are easier and quicker to use (the eye is further from the gate so I don't have to full stop and the passage is straight ahead rather than to the side.)
It's a jungle out there,
Kitty

I agree with using the visitors gate. When I first moved here I felt like if would be "cutting in the line" if I did, but a gate attendant told me they prefer it because it moves more traffic through the gate.
I would also recommend that you use the inside lane when going three-quarters of the way around the roundabout.

Be careful at the roundabouts especially if you assume the other driver will know the rules of negotiating the roundabouts successfully.

That's not a recommendation; that's the law!

My recommendation is that a sign with words be added to the roundabout graphic, which IMO is hard to read when you first encounter it. Something like "Treat As Four-Way Intersection," or "Use Inside Lane When Going Left."

Kitty, your suggestion is spot on. I could never understand why people would line up to use one gate when the other one is empty!

And the comments regarding the roundabouts are also correct. They operate just like a four way intersection: you turn left from the left lane (inside lane); you turn right from the right lane (outside lane); and you can go straight in either lane.

All gates operate with the button. Why the distinction, why the card? Attendants would be for information and emergency vehicle traffic. I guess using the card slows traffic and gives cart traffic a chance.

Pay attention when at a traffic light and be ready to go when the light changes.

I see people texting, gabbing on the phone, reading something and doing every thing else but looking to see when traffic moves. This causes huge gaps and instead of 20 cars making the light, only 10 do. This causes wasted gasoline. Nationally if people maintained gap control at lights, three million gallons of fuel saved every day.

And this is amplified here in TV. I realize reaction times are more and people drive slower in general, but you can look and be ready to move when the car in front of you does.

I think it originally was going to be a true "gated" community, but then changed because road maintenance would have had to be paid for by the residents, not the counties. I could be wrong. I'm sure someone will correct.

I like the card because I don't have to get so close to the post to push the button. You can wave the card from farther away. Saves wear and tear on my side-view mirror!

but folks who are 1st in line at the red traffic light should take a deep breath or count to 5 before entering the intersection - just in case there is a driver running the red light from the opposite direction. and traffic behind that 1st car should not be so quick to honk the horn!

Always look left, look right, look left again and then go. 2 seconds max required to do that and does not hold up traffic. It's cars two though X usually causing the issue.

My daughter was pulled over by local law enforcement regarding using the proper lane when driving through a roundabout. He didn't ticket her, just a lesson.(I'm convinced it was becuase she is a cute kid:))

Second, I have to text at the light when I stop because it's illeagel for me to do it while driving now.....

Don't text at all when in the car--unless you're the passenger!

I don't have to open my window when using the card. Handy when it's raining. Also, wear and tear to the driver side window system is dramatically increased as a result of the more than normal usage in The Villages.

I may add, don't talk on the cell phone. This is distracted driving. I could never understand why someone gets into a car and must talk with someone while they drive away. That goes for golf carts also.

Question
 

We were in TV over Labor Day and will be returning in 2 weeks to buy a home. I had difficulties with the roundabouts. Are they all the same? It seemed that some of them let both the left and right lane turn right at the first quarter around. If you are in the right lane, is it mandatory to turn right at the first quarter? If they are all the same, it would be easier to get the hang of using them.