[valuemkt]

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

[Trob62]

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.

[candlweav]

Originally Posted by Joeyb

I’m moved here in July. For a retirement area, I have never seen as many folks impatient and in such a big hurry. You all need to slow down! Someone wrote they skidded to a stop...skidded! Shouldn’t be going fast enough to skid going through a gate! There is no need to “beat” the arm from closing either as they all have sensors and won’t close until your vehicle passes. SLOW DOWN PEOPLE! Frankly, I’m tired of being tailgated and witnessing many racing around at 20 mph faster than posted speed limits. People in our own village must all have somewhere to be that it is more important for them rather than respecting the safety of those around them. If local law enforcement would simply start smacking some with speeding fines, this would stop quickly. My middle finger has been getting some heavy use. rather than enjoying a car ride up Morse Blvd, it is usually quite stressful. I guess I’ll have to continue my friendly “wave”. It’s actually sad.

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!

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by Neils

Not usually a problem in seeing the arms. Just a problem waiting for the arm to clear, or trying to beat the arm closing

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.

[Bill14564]

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).

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.

[vermonster]

Originally Posted by Joeyb

I’m moved here in July. For a retirement area, I have never seen as many folks impatient and in such a big hurry. You all need to slow down! Someone wrote they skidded to a stop...skidded! Shouldn’t be going fast enough to skid going through a gate! There is no need to “beat” the arm from closing either as they all have sensors and won’t close until your vehicle passes. SLOW DOWN PEOPLE! Frankly, I’m tired of being tailgated and witnessing many racing around at 20 mph faster than posted speed limits. People in our own village must all have somewhere to be that it is more important for them rather than respecting the safety of those around them. If local law enforcement would simply start smacking some with speeding fines, this would stop quickly. My middle finger has been getting some heavy use. rather than enjoying a car ride up Morse Blvd, it is usually quite stressful. I guess I’ll have to continue my friendly “wave”. It’s actually sad.

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.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by butch69

I read an article about all the gate guards being knocked down by cart and cars. It listed several distractions that might cause it, but one of the best things they could do is paint the stripes YELLOW instead of red. There is a reason highway stripes are painted yellow and not red. Yellow is the most visible color of all the colors, it is the first color that the human eye notices. Might not solve 100% of the problem but it should cause a dramatic reduction in accidents.

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.

[MizJodi]

Welcome to The Villages 500

[mramsett]

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.

Originally Posted by Joeyb

I’m moved here in July. For a retirement area, I have never seen as many folks impatient and in such a big hurry. You all need to slow down! Someone wrote they skidded to a stop...skidded! Shouldn’t be going fast enough to skid going through a gate! There is no need to “beat” the arm from closing either as they all have sensors and won’t close until your vehicle passes. SLOW DOWN PEOPLE! Frankly, I’m tired of being tailgated and witnessing many racing around at 20 mph faster than posted speed limits. People in our own village must all have somewhere to be that it is more important for them rather than respecting the safety of those around them. If local law enforcement would simply start smacking some with speeding fines, this would stop quickly. My middle finger has been getting some heavy use. rather than enjoying a car ride up Morse Blvd, it is usually quite stressful. I guess I’ll have to continue my friendly “wave”. It’s actually sad.

[gwenhwalker@yahoo.com]

Stop signs would work if positioned correctly for cart passings

[Buckeye Bob]

Originally Posted by Jeremiah Riordan

As most us ol' military retirees know, color red appears as black in low/no light conditions. Good suggestion to change, and why not add some shapes on the arms as well. The almost-immediate reduction in the $ spent on gate maintenance would probably more than cover the $ outlay to accomplish the change, as well as improve safety.

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

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Decadeofdave

I have noticed over many, many years, you just cannot "idiot proof" everything.

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

[Annie66]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Gate Guards knocked down.

After reading the OP Title, I thought that as all the barriers were being destroyed, drivers were knocking down the gate attendants instead!

Me too.

[BudPollard]

Being a rude driver solves no problem!