[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Happinow

I don't understand it either. What could possibly be that important that you have to endanger your life or the life of others?? So if your a little late for your golf time, so what if you are late for your exercise class, or swim class, or painting class.....is it really worth it? We don't heal as fast as we use to and don't bounce as easily as we use to.

I dont think it has to do with being late or not, I think people are not driving defensively anymore.They are just whipping around whether in cars or in golf carts and not anticipating the other guy might not be paying attention. This could also translate to people who ride bikes.Everyone should take a motorcycle safety course because they preach defensive operation of the motorcycle. Dont only pay attention to what your doing but what the other guy might do.

[pooh]

Is this what happened? This is from the Sumter County incident page....MAJOR ACCIDENT
03/19/12 17:32 (THE VILLAGES - 800 TRS PS 2) SQUAD 51 ON SCENE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT GOLF CART VS BICYCLE REQUEST AIR SUPPORT AEROMED 3 RESPONDING ENGINE COMPANY 40 LANDING ZONE [FLA074]

[Happinow]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I dont think it has to do with being late or not, I think people are not driving defensively anymore.They are just whipping around whether in cars or in golf carts and not anticipating the other guy might not be paying attention. This could also translate to people who ride bikes.Everyone should take a motorcycle safety course because they preach defensive operation of the motorcycle. Dont only pay attention to what your doing but what the other guy might do.

Good advice Penguin....

[Midge538]

I had a golf cart (since 2004).
I drove it cautiously .. 'very cautiously.'
I had scary runins (almost) every time I took it out.
I sold it a month ago.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by pooh

Is this what happened? This is from the Sumter County incident page....MAJOR ACCIDENT
03/19/12 17:32 (THE VILLAGES - 800 TRS PS 2) SQUAD 51 ON SCENE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT GOLF CART VS BICYCLE REQUEST AIR SUPPORT AEROMED 3 RESPONDING ENGINE COMPANY 40 LANDING ZONE [FLA074]

1732 is 5:32pm, this accident was about 3pm, also didn't see any bicycle and did see two people on stretchers laying in the road, and definitely saw a damaged car. Your accident is a bike and cart.

[George Bieniaszek]

Originally Posted by Trish65

I really think they should put a light there or make it a 3-way stop.

I respectfully disagree that a stop sign or traffic light should be installed at this intersection.

The Villages road system was designed so as to not have driveways or other things to imped the flow of traffic on these main roads. If a traffic light is approved for installation on Pennecamp/St Charles, why not at Buttonwood/St. Charles also. Then people living near Southern Star/St. Charles would want one there also. Then how about people living off Canal Street, or Odell, etc etc etc... Will these traffic lights be needed during the off season when the "snowbirds" head home?

The Villages would turn into a giant traffic mess.

These roads are accommodating many vehicles, from commercial trucks, to cars, golf carts, bicycles, joggers, etc. and work well as long as we all be a little curtious.

S L O W D O W N, drive defensively, be aware of the people around you sharing the road and anticipate a potential careless unintentional move by the many new residents both perminent and part time trying to figure their way around town.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by John_W

1732 is 5:32pm, this accident was about 3pm, also didn't see any bicycle and did see two people on stretchers laying in the road, and definitely saw a damaged car. Your accident is a bike and cart.

I didn't check the time everyone was talking about the first accident, sorry, but now it seems we've had another cart involved accident....DAM!

[Happinow]

Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek

I respectfully disagree that a stop sign or traffic light should be installed at this intersection.

The Villages road system was designed so as to not have driveways or other things to imped the flow of traffic on these main roads. If a traffic light is approved for installation on Pennecamp/St Charles, why not at Buttonwood/St. Charles also. Then people living near Southern Star/St. Charles would want one there also. Then how about people living off Canal Street, or Odell, etc etc etc... Will these traffic lights be needed during the off season when the "snowbirds" head home?

The Villages would turn into a giant traffic mess.

These roads are accommodating many vehicles, from commercial trucks, to cars, golf carts, bicycles, joggers, etc. and work well as long as we all be a little curtious.

S L O W D O W N, drive defensively, be aware of the people around you sharing the road and anticipate a potential careless unintentional move by the many new residents both perminent and part time trying to figure their way around town.

Everyone needs to remember "you were a newbie once too." please extend some patience to those that are trying to learn the lay of the land.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek

I respectfully disagree that a stop sign or traffic light should be installed at this intersection.

The Villages road system was designed so as to not have driveways or other things to imped the flow of traffic on these main roads. If a traffic light is approved for installation on Pennecamp/St Charles, why not at Buttonwood/St. Charles also. Then people living near Southern Star/St. Charles would want one there also. Then how about people living off Canal Street, or Odell, etc etc etc... Will these traffic lights be needed during the off season when the "snowbirds" head home?

The Villages would turn into a giant traffic mess.

These roads are accommodating many vehicles, from commercial trucks, to cars, golf carts, bicycles, joggers, etc. and work well as long as we all be a little curtious.

S L O W D O W N, drive defensively, be aware of the people around you sharing the road and anticipate a potential careless unintentional move by the many new residents both perminent and part time trying to figure their way around town.

Your post really makes us think about this. A traffic light is not an easy solution it appears. Perhaps when the loop is built out and the construction traffic goes away, things will improve. I hope so.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek

I respectfully disagree that a stop sign or traffic light should be installed at this intersection.

The Villages road system was designed so as to not have driveways or other things to imped the flow of traffic on these main roads. If a traffic light is approved for installation on Pennecamp/St Charles, why not at Buttonwood/St. Charles also. Then people living near Southern Star/St. Charles would want one there also. Then how about people living off Canal Street, or Odell, etc etc etc... Will these traffic lights be needed during the off season when the "snowbirds" head home?

The Villages would turn into a giant traffic mess...

I don't like that idea either, except it could be done on a lesser scale. If you notice on weekends when we don't have all the construction trucks it's so much nicer on St. Charles. Put lights at the corner of Pennecamp, Buttonwood and Tamarind Grove but after 5pm weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday they just flash amber on St. Charles and flash red on the side roads. Most of the congestion occurs during weekdays during working hours. Otherwise it's too late to build traffic circles since homes occupy the corners at these intersections. Other than that, there is really nothing else that can be done short of putting speed bumps on St. Charles prior to these intersections, which I wouldn't be for.

[applesoffh]

I hope everyone will pull through without lasting injuries. Frankly, the roundabouts scare the hell out of me. I moved here in January, and have yet to take the car anywhere other than 466A and Wildwood. No matter how much I watch the traffic patterns, or watch my husband navigate the circles, I can't get over my fear. I understand WHY there are roundabouts here, I've read the pamphlet we were given, but it hasn't helped. We have yet to buy a golf cart.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by pooh

Is this what happened? This is from the Sumter County incident page....MAJOR ACCIDENT
03/19/12 17:32 (THE VILLAGES - 800 TRS PS 2) SQUAD 51 ON SCENE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT GOLF CART VS BICYCLE REQUEST AIR SUPPORT AEROMED 3 RESPONDING ENGINE COMPANY 40 LANDING ZONE [FLA074]

This not the accident reported in this thread. This cart vs. bicycle accident occurred on Buena Vista. We drove passed it, but I can't remember the cross street.

[Pturner]

I hope the people who were injured in the accident are okay. If there is any news about how they are doing, someone please let us know.

[PennBF]

It happened a Sunday on the cart path that runs next to 466. I believe the
cart ran into the bicycle(s).

[PennBF]

We have a few conversations regarding the change in traffic between the summer months and the "snow bird" months. One possible reason for the
lack of courtesy during the snow bird time is that quite a few are renters
and have a sense of entitlement as they paid for a vacation and don't have
the same pride of The Villages as the full time residents. There is a definite
difference in the manners on the road between the summer and snow bird
time. Not sure if it is really a sense of entitlement or just a lack of knowledge of the circles, etc. This lack of manners extends to the golf carts
and is not restricted to cars. I guess the answer is for the full time residents to realize there is a difference and to take that into consideration when they drive either the car or the cart.