[grayesun]

In the last week, I've had 2 close calls, nearly being run down by vehicles running stop signs and traffic lights...slow down people...just slow down and pay attention!

1st incident - riding my bike on Bichara Blvd. (most dangerous place to ride a bike in Villages IMHO, I won't ever do it again). Travelling south at a slow speed, I was approaching La Plaza Parkway intersection - when a vehicle pulled up to stop sign after exiting 441, driver "paused-slowed" at stop sign momentarily then darted out right in front of me. I needed to jam on both brakes and come to sudden stop to avoid crashing with car. I yelled out a few choice words, observed the lady-passenger in the car saying something to male driver as they continued on their way. I know the driver saw me as he slowed at the stop sign, bur apparently he decided he could speed through the intersection before me.

2nd incident - at of Lakeshore Drive and Lake Sumter Landing, we were just leaving Subway at LSL in our golf car heading east, about to enter intersection (traffic light had been green for about 5 seconds), when a car flew through the red light from Lakeshore Dr., nearly hitting a golf car that was turning left towards Sweetbay. Fortunately, we had slowed to allow this golf car to turn left in front of us...or we would likely have been hit broadside by the speeding car that ran the red light. The windows were down as the car sped through, so I yelled out "RED LIGHT"...hopefully this driver will be more attentive following this near tragedy.

The lesson of course is to always drive or bike the roads wherever you are "defensively"...you never know what the other guy/gal is going to do.

Safe travels folks and slow down!

[REDCART]

This could be a permanent thread! Earlier this week I saw a Lexus RX350 speed through the Mallory Gate right behind another car to avoid waiting for the gate to close and reopen. How much of a hurry can you be in to risk damage to your car and maybe to a golf cart who anticipated the gate closing before proceeding? We've all made questionable decisions at some point in our lives but poor judgement here may be out of control.

[angiefox10]

No kidding. We almost got creamed on a round a bout. A guy making a left turn from the right lane. And he layed on the horn at us. Another one just drove into the round a bout without looking

[JC and John]

Originally Posted by grayesun

In the last week, I've had 2 close calls, nearly being run down by vehicles running stop signs and traffic lights...slow down people...just slow down and pay attention!

1st incident - riding my bike on Bichara Blvd. (most dangerous place to ride a bike in Villages IMHO, I won't ever do it again). Travelling south at a slow speed, I was approaching La Plaza Parkway intersection - when a vehicle pulled up to stop sign after exiting 441, driver "paused-slowed" at stop sign momentarily then darted out right in front of me. I needed to jam on both brakes and come to sudden stop to avoid crashing with car. I yelled out a few choice words, observed the lady-passenger in the car saying something to male driver as they continued on their way. I know the driver saw me as he slowed at the stop sign, bur apparently he decided he could speed through the intersection before me.

2nd incident - at of Lakeshore Drive and Lake Sumter Landing, we were just leaving Subway at LSL in our golf car heading east, about to enter intersection (traffic light had been green for about 5 seconds), when a car flew through the red light from Lakeshore Dr., nearly hitting a golf car that was turning left towards Sweetbay. Fortunately, we had slowed to allow this golf car to turn left in front of us...or we would likely have been hit broadside by the speeding car that ran the red light. The windows were down as the car sped through, so I yelled out "RED LIGHT"...hopefully this driver will be more attentive following this near tragedy.

The lesson of course is to always drive or bike the roads wherever you are "defensively"...you never know what the other guy/gal is going to do.

Safe travels folks and slow down!

I am really disgusted with the way some folks drive in and around TV. Seems worse since we moved here back in Feb than when we were here in Aug. for a lifestyle preview. Just today I was going to UPS on 468 and some a-- decided that he was going to go around me (even though I was going the speed limit) while we were approaching a red light not more than 600 ft ahead. Oh, I was getting ready to get in the left lane to turn. Lucky for all the light turned green and he sailed on through. And, what is up with those who speed through the parking lot at the Lady Lake Post Office. I am always getting either honked at or having to slam on the brakes as I am backing out of a space. I swear I look more than once to ensure no one is coming, check all the mirrors (no I don't have any blind spots) and BAM there they are! Hit me from behind and see if your insurance will buy me a new SUV. It is not like they can't see me. They just don't want to wait for 2 seconds. I come from the major metro area of Washington DC and am well versed in high traffic volume, speed and road rage. DC seems tame compared to here or maybe I was just used to it. Oh well, thanks for letting me vent.

[Challenger]

Have been driving for 50 years with only 2 fender benders and less than a handful of tickets. However, I have never seen the level of bad driving practices that I have experienced here since arriving in 2011. This extends to bikes , carts, autos and various construction vehicles. What is going on and how can we make it better before many more people are mamed and or killed?

[billethkid]

welcome to TV...FL friendliest hometown....unless they are behind the wheel!!!!

btk

[grayesun]

Originally Posted by JC and John

I am really disgusted with the way some folks drive in and around TV. Seems worse since we moved here back in Feb than when we were here in Aug. for a lifestyle preview. Just today I was going to UPS on 468 and some a-- decided that he was going to go around me (even though I was going the speed limit) while we were approaching a red light not more than 600 ft ahead. Oh, I was getting ready to get in the left lane to turn. Lucky for all the light turned green and he sailed on through. And, what is up with those who speed through the parking lot at the Lady Lake Post Office. I am always getting either honked at or having to slam on the brakes as I am backing out of a space. I swear I look more than once to ensure no one is coming, check all the mirrors (no I don't have any blind spots) and BAM there they are! Hit me from behind and see if your insurance will buy me a new SUV. It is not like they can't see me. They just don't want to wait for 2 seconds. I come from the major metro area of Washington DC and am well versed in high traffic volume, speed and road rage. DC seems tame compared to here or maybe I was just used to it. Oh well, thanks for letting me vent.

Yeah, I hear ya...about now I'm craving that unbearable summertime heat and ghost town feel of TV!

[Figmo Bohica]

If you hit, you better kill me, because if you don't I am going to own all that you have and then some. You can keep your SO, has he/she would have be to feed and that would eat into the enjoyment of me spending your money.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica

If you hit, you better kill me, because if you don't I am going to own all that you have and then some. You can keep your SO, has he/she would have be to feed and that would eat into the enjoyment of me spending your money.

I think that's what the guy who ran over the biker was thinking when he backed up to hit him again.

[NotGolfer]

Posted this on another thread or similar words as such....but had an aha moment today. We get folks down here from all over the country--world really. SOME live in large cities where folks seem to drive as if on the autobahn (have you been to Chicago??). They bring these habits down here with them. Put with that unfamiliarity of the area, having certain afflictions, being on medications and just not paying attention into the mix! Should be a HUGE front page article on this in The Sun...but doubt that will happen.

We ALL have stories from when we've been out and about! The other evening, returning from supper in SS and going on the multi-model along Morse, before you get to the Malory golf-course (it was dark!!!!) we met a biker WITHOUT a light or reflective ANYTHING (dark clothing even). Heard from someone who preceeded us that they were passing a golf-cart and as they pulled into their lane they encountered the biker---had it been a couple of seconds difference there would have been another bike/cart accident and head-on! GAH!!!!!!

[Boudicca]

As many of the users of TOTV know, I am sight impaired, and thus drive my golf cart VERY carefully, probably just like the proverbial "little ol lady". Driving back from golf at Belmont yesterday, I was enjoying an almost deserted ride on the cart path, north to south approaching the Lake Miona tunnel. There is a golf cart path intersection there,at the top of the tunnel incline, one I always approach with considerable caution. Good job. As I approached the intersection with ME having the ROW, and with NO traffic either in front or behind me, a woman driver spun her cart from the intersection, ignored the STOP sign, and drove in front of me with only feet to spare, then came to an almost stop as she drove down into the tunnel. She had a large golden retriever in the passenger seat. As I hit my brakes, the woman looked up in her mirror (ah-mazing) and we made eye contact. My wind shield was down, and I yelled "REALLY?, YOU COULD NOT WAIT 10 SECONDS?".... She was obviously in her own world, but somethng clicked (other than me fuming behind her cart) because she took a sudden right turn - no signal, into Lake Miona's parking lot.... As we say in Yoga "breathe in all that is wholesome and good"......... aaagghhhhhhh

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by shrandell

As many of the users of TOTV know, I am sight impaired, and thus drive my golf cart VERY carefully, probably just like the proverbial "little ol lady". Driving back from golf at Belmont yesterday, I was enjoying an almost deserted ride on the cart path, north to south approaching the Lake Miona tunnel. There is a golf cart path intersection there,at the top of the tunnel incline, one I always approach with considerable caution. Good job. As I approached the intersection with ME having the ROW, and with NO traffic either in front or behind me, a woman driver spun her cart from the intersection, ignored the STOP sign, and drove in front of me with only feet to spare, then came to an almost stop as she drove down into the tunnel. She had a large golden retriever in the passenger seat. As I hit my brakes, the woman looked up in her mirror (ah-mazing) and we made eye contact. My wind shield was down, and I yelled "REALLY?, YOU COULD NOT WAIT 10 SECONDS?".... She was obviously in her own world, but somethng clicked (other than me fuming behind her cart) because she took a sudden right turn - no signal, into Lake Miona's parking lot.... As we say in Yoga "breathe in all that is wholesome and good"......... aaagghhhhhhh

Un.be.liev.able!!!

Your post reminded me of yet another cart sighting today. We'd just gone over the bridge that goes over 441 when we met a cart. In the driver's seat (I'm not kidding) was sitting a large dog with his master sitting in the passenger side holding the steering wheel (and I suspect had his foot on the pedal). BIG SIGH!!! Where do these people come from?? He probably thought he was being funny and cute...but we didn't laugh!!!

[skip0358]

A few weeks back we were coming back fromm SS side. We were approaching the famos LS bridge. We know the sign says 10 mph which rarely happens when a guy infront of us passes the cart in front of him on the bridge GC path. Are you kidding me. People are asking to have the walkway removed because the bridge is to narrow and this jerk passes on the bridge. What the heck is the hurry!! PS None of the carts were doing 10 mph.

[getdul981]

I'll be the first to admit that when I am crossing that bridge, if nothing is coming, I run WFO so I can get across before I do have to meet a cart. If there is someone on the bridge, I do slow down to 10 MPH. (or what I feel like is 10 MPH as I don't have a speedometer)

[Happinow]

I'm reading our morning paper and there's an article in it that headlines "Civility lost when it comes to driving." They are talking much about what's going on in TV. People pulling out in front of one another, people flipping others off if they aren't going fast enough, tail gating, not stopping for crosswalks. It's everywhere. It is a law that people in Florida have to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks??

I think in a lot of places stress plays a big factor in the poor, unruly drivers. They are taking their anger out on the road. Shouldn't be a factor in TV because I don't think people are typically angry. We'll have to come up with another excuse for them.