I propose village tax to enact all suggestions. Each of use can pay $100 dollars or so to have gates painted, new reflective tape in rainbow of colors, flashing lights, speed bumps, stop sign, before the golf cart crossing, automatic ticketing cameras ������, Law enforcement at every entry, and last loud speakers blasting 30 yards before the gates. And still there will be gate crashes.

No, they just drive around them:icon_wink:

some people are red - xxxx colorblind - yellow is better

Soooooo true! For the most part everyone knows they are there, For the life of me I can't figure out why everyone is in such a hurry to go........where?

The gates are already painted in nice visible colors and are at eye level. Repainting them in dayglo neon green, orange or whatever wouldn’t make a difference to these people. Remember you have to LOOK to see them.

I will agree that it is hard to see under some circumstances such as popping open another beer, texting or otherwise using a cell phone, speeding, in too big of a hurry to see if the gate is fully raised, and other critically important tasks!

Without gates, the intersection of cart path & car entrance would be similar to the intersection of a ‘Figure-8” race track. Carnage & mayhem would soon follow.

We do NEED the gates so what is the answer? I would suggest doubling the fines/replacement costs to the offender and ADD speed bumps (not replace the gates with speed bumps).

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...-jack-coke.jpg

The colors certainly need tobe changed. However, many gates respond, or dont respond differently to the gate cards. many make you wait until the gate opening from the prior car is completely down. On the way out, some go up a reasonable distance away so you can roll through. Others dont go up until you have the car butt up to the gate itself. It's not just "hoodlums" racing through. Consistency is needed

You cannot see the one in Marshbend when the sun comes up in the morning. Nothing wrong with my eyes or driving. When the sun hits those colors in the morning they are invisible until you get abot 15 feet away from it.

Don't agree.
 

Sorry, I'm on the other side of that coin. Some folks may be Type A and some Type B but, regardless of their mode, there is no need to be inconsiderate. As tired as you are of tailgaters, I'm just as tired of people who impose their preferences onto me. There's always that question; are they holding me to their speed because they're oblivious or because they're defiant? You sound an awful lot like the latter. Frankly, neither approach is earning consideration. Hey, I'm getting old and my time is short - I need to get moving so I can get it all done!

that's it, isn't it? the driver who just cannot wait for his turn, tries to slide along & pass with the car in front. i see this most often going into SS heading for 441.

I don't understand this at all. If you don't see the gate you just assume it isn't there??? Aside from the lack of safe-driving skills, perhaps some drivers' judgment should be questioned!

If you can't see whether the gate is up or down ... look harder! Red on white, yellow on white, flag or no flag... the current gates are not transparent, they can be seen if you bother to look for them.

It would help if the timing on the gates were all adjusted to be the same. I've approached exit gates that seem to be staying open but were just on a long delay and started back down again. I've not had a close call with these but I can see how it could happen.

Speed bumps would be an unnecessary expense and aggravation that would not solve the problem of hitting the gates or serve the purpose that the gates serve. If someone can't see the red and white gate arm across the entrance then they won't see the speed bump either. They will still hit the gate but they may lose control of their vehicle at the same time. For those who don't have problems with the gate the speed bumps will just cause aggravation.

The purpose of the gate is to cause traffic to stop and make the crossing safer for anyone on the MMP. Since a speed bump slows traffic but doesn't stop it, the speed bump will not help those on the MMP. Instead of being able to cross the road when the gate is down and stopping traffic, those on the MMP would have to wait until the entire line of cars has passed. Or, they would have to gamble that they could cross ahead of the driver who will soon be speeding away from the speed bump. (note, this is the same driver who would not have seen the gate and therefore would not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk).

Gates
 

I think the lack of consistent timing on the gate is one of the biggest problems. Some gates go down very quickly some stay up.

I couldn't agree more
 

Most of the problems concerning vehicles here are due to impatience. As you observed, cars doing well over the speed limit, tailgating (I do not understand this unless it is an attempt to intimidate the other driver into speeding up), racing around the roundabouts and passing other vehicles on the right (even when they signal their intention to exit, trying to beat out other vehicles to the next red light/roundabout/stop sign/whatever, turning right in front of golf carts nearly parallel (cause of an accident on Morse Boulevard the other day), although I have to admit I am sometimes surprised by how fast souped up golf carts close the gap. I look at driving to a destination as a cooperative venture, where my goal is to see that I and everyone else get to their destinations safely. Many drivers here see driving as a competitive and really are only happy if they beat you to the next red light or roundabout, etc. , and perhaps arrive at their destinations 2, 3, or minutes quicker. Remember, in the dictionary safety comes before speed.

Great thread starter, Mr Butch, kudos! The color red has been used traditionally as a warning sign (like stop signs). But, as you point out red has its drawbacks. The tradition probably developed because of the color of human blood - but I do NOT know that for a fact? I have noticed that when approaching a gate bar, my eyes tend to scan AHEAD for a greater distance - this combined with stupidity and inattention has caused me to sometimes need to tap the brakes. I have never actually hit one or even had to slam on the brakes. I DO, however, understand why some would hit them. I hope some good suggestions come out of posts on this excellent thread. Some sort of warning sound placed ahead of the gate in both directions might work. Or a mild speed bump with a mechanical bell sound. The solution needs to be inexpensive and simple.

Welcome to The Villages 500

Guards at gates
 

I get so irritated by the way the guards at the gates let the cars through without even stopping them for an appropriate amount of time. The cars on the left are trying to avoid using their gate cards and are looking for a fast way to get through the gate. It is extremely dangerous for the driver who has used his/her card correctly and has stopped. When he she starts to move forward the car on the left dashes through to beat him/her. The car on the left should yield to the car using the card and the guard at the gate should be watching to make sure this happens by not opening the gate till it is appropriate and avoids this problem. I saw an accident almost happen the other day because of this type of situation and the driver on the left honked at the driver on the right. The guard should be trained to watch this. If you are a resident, use your card!!! That is a misuse of the left gate.

Stop signs would work if positioned correctly for cart passings

Could be that repairing/replacing the arms is a very profitable business; I believe they charge $250 to the culprit.

It would not hurt to try. There is always a solution - if cost is no object.

Me too.

Being a rude driver solves no problem!

Is that golfers special handicap sticker I see on the windshield? :):)

Good post, excellent. Kudos! You would think that all-day every-day - rush hour was going on in TV Land. I notice that also. We must have too many fully caffeinated ex-hot rod enthusiasts here. And the lawn service people race around with large, heavy trailers playing the child's game, "We don't stop for nobody". They also like to park in the middle of small residential streets. That is one of their favorite jokes. Welcome to elderly Crazyville!

Why punish the MANY for the sins of the FEW. Better to give out LARGE speeding tickets - more equitable - and reward good behavior by police giving free gift vouchers from local stores to drivers maintaining safe speeds on a lottery basis. 'Catch more flies with honey than vinegar"......just saying?

Also, as we age we get more cataracts which slowly DULL the brilliance of the colors. Ask anyone how improved colors are AFTER a cataracts operation.

Not ALL gates have gate HOUSES!

The gates are there to create an ambiance, to create an ILLUSION of SECURITY. Many TV Landers buy into that illusion (literally and pay up for their property). Then they leave their homes unlocked and the criminals take over from there. TV Land is a soft and profitable target for local crime. We are NOT a true gated community.

I disagree with the statement. "the most visible color is green". if so, why then would most summer camouflage be variations of green? Why would flowers be red and yellow? If green were the brightest then leaves would be yellow and flowers would be green. Also, green leaves are dark to ABSORBE sunlight not reflect it. Green is NOT bright in THIS world!

Single lane round-about would be OK by me. But, the idea is to sell the illusion of security.

Ah yes, the philosophic and moral dilemma between "might and right".

That seems like Bizzaroland to me - where older people have a NEED and therefore a right to drive faster? Older eyes and slower reflexes would logically mean less SPEEDING.

True that! The left incoming gate lane should be used only for people seeking information. Not a quicker way in. If the gatekeeper moved real, real, really slowly, maybe people would get the hint.

But, no illusion of exclusivity!

Why is that?

Be that as it may but there is very little crime here.

Just how much local crime have you seen? It’s certainly not the level you are implying.

You are right. Sometimes the arm blends in with the backround

Wait...what are we talking about here? The gates to get in or the gates to get out? Because I thought you had to go one at a time coming in with the card and all of that. But I've been driving out along with the car in front of me for the last year without ever hitting the gate....I thought that was sorta OK?

Joe

At least he didn't compare us to Australia this time. lol

Totally unnecessary is right. How anyone can get by with putting up "gates" and having "guards" called ambassadors on PUBLIC roads I have never figured out ! ? Can any neighborhood in any city in Florida decide to look "private", and just slap up gates, arms, man the "guard houses" and make the public stop to enter their neighborhood ? What would happen if people in Ocala, or Leesburg, just decided to "act" exclusive and slap up some gates... back up traffic a half mile or more only letting ONE car at a time down their street ? Expense for what, the sake of ego of those among us who enjoy the illusion that this is some kind of exclusive enclave ? I don't know, but sure would be nice to turn by the high school and just go over a speed bump or two and drive right to your home without a one, by one, by one line clear to the 4 lane highway of 466. Insanity for sure, what we need is the state saying people can't just slap up gates onto public streets and roads ! Oh, and how many people have the pleasure of (formerly) NOT having to roll their automatic windows up and down all day long, wonder how many expensive repairs per year that costs our residents ! ?

Gates
 

I think painting the gates a different color would help a lot. They are hard to see. Could it be the "developer" likes it when people hit them so they can fine them $250 a pop?