Happy someone is getting golf cart speeders. Yes, the speed is still slow but when someone speeds up behind you and passes only to cut back in abruptly it is dangerous and frightening. Why are so many in such a hurry?

In my opinion, modifying your golf cart to go above 20 mph is a very dangerous and bad idea. I have been passed by some people that seem to have a death wish. On the other hand, people that insist on driving long stretches going well below 20 mph are equally as dangerous. I have often observed several frustrated carts getting stuck behind very slow drivers, resulting in people tailgating and dangerously passing the slow driver. Why can’t people simply have their carts set to max out at the legal speed limit and drive with the pedal to the floor on wide open safe stretches?

I've got friends who insist that they've been told by "folks in the know" or "mechanics that work for The VIllages golf cart shops" that the speed limit for golf carts has been raised to 25 mph and have had their governors adjusted accordingly. I talked to a sheriff about that at one of those government open house events and he said that they most definitely have NOT raised the speed limit; that the limit is still 20 mph and is set by the state, NOT by The Villages. When I'm zipping along at 20 mph (I have a speedometer) on the multipurpose paths and I have golf carts go flying by me, I do wonder why they aren't getting stopped and ticketed more often (or at all). But then I drive the speed limit in my car too so maybe I'm just weird that way.

Good for you.

But if you drive the speed limit in your car, you must be getting passed by lots of cars that aren’t getting ticketed too. :)

I wonder how many engines fail after being tinkered with ?...I hear a few screaming

Thank you!

Click your heels together, and say "There's no place like home."

I'm not sure that's true. I think they are built and designed to go faster, which is why they are retro-fitted with a governor to keep them below the speed for which they were designed.

It's not that the cart can't take the speed, it's that the law requires the cart not go as fast as it's designed to go. At least, that's how I understand it.

golf carts should never of been allowed on public streets ...... there a danger

If you don't think it's dangerous, try slamming on your brakes going 20 mph, like you may have to do sometime to avoid an accident. I think that will change your mind.

or come down the golf cart bridge from Spanish Springs into the Paradise rec park area, without slowing down for the tree at the bend. At 20mph? No way. You will either hit the tree and catapult into the dog park lot, or you will tip over right after the tree and be crushed by your cart.

Golf carts are not designed to go past 15mph. They can tip more easily than cars, and most don't have doors to protect the driver. Even with seatbelts, there is risk. A good driver can easily go 18-20 but the vehicle isn't designed for it.

My cart can top 20mph, I tested it one day on a straight-away and it got to 21.3 (I have a speedometer). It's too loud at that speed, and I have no "need" to ever go that fast, so I keep it usually around 18mph except at turns and on the golf cart bridge - when I reduce it to around 12-13mph. That thing is scary!

My Toyota Highlander is designed to go really fast, certainly the 70mph speed limit of a Florida Interstate. That doesn't mean I should "slam on the brakes" at 70 mph.

My goodness...there is an element of danger in everything we do...20mph being no exception. 21 or 22 mph not being much different.

And yet...you lived to tell about it.

The fact that a cart CAN go 22mph, is not the same thing as saying you must go that fast, regardless of what is ahead of you. My Highlander can go 100mph, yet I manage to drive it on curvy roads at 15mph.

Modern cars are designed to not be able to be flipped over by zigging, zagging, braking, etc.. You literally can't flip your Highlander over unless you are sliding sideways and hit a curb or something. Golf cars, on the other hand, just love to flip over. It's one of their favorite things to do and speed enhances this trait.

Look, our golf cars are designed with standard wheels and standard transmission. Every golf car in the villages has large wheels and high speed modifications to the transmission so it can go 20mph. Clearly we're running these at a higher speed than they were designed for.

Disclaimer, mine goes 22mph and that's how fast I go. I'm sorry for going off topic.

I have no beef with what you say. I disagree with those who profess that driving a golf cart sensibly can't include a few mph over 20, regardless of what "the law" says. Frankly, I feel safer in a golf cart on a multi-modal, or on Canal St. going 22 mph than I do in my Highlander, on I-75, in bumper-to-bumper traffic going 75mph.
Arguing that my cart at 22 is "unsafe" because if I slam on the brakes or jerk the wheel viciously sideways at top speed it is likely to end badly is a stupid argument. It makes no more sense than saying I should not drive my car 50mph on a two lane road because if I do, and a truck going the other way crosses the midline, it will end badly.
Peace.

Not exactly. The law states a LSV (SL GC) CAN'T EXCEED 25 like a regular golf cart is CAN'T EXCEED 20 so 25 for a LSV and 20 for a GC is legal.

The Deputy Sheriffs may be in plain clothes driving unmarked cars. Also unmarked motorcycles. The radar may look like a pair of binoculars and the Sheriff using it may pretend to be bird watching. The radar also takes a photo. A Deputy Sheriff told me that a straight shot with an accurate reading can be made up to 1/2 mile distance and is acceptable as State evidence. Depending on the judge, you may face a $500.00 fine the first time. There are also other charges that may be applied, as mentioned in a previous post. The judge will wave additional charges pending on when you prove with a certified letter from a court designated technician that your golf cart is altered to have a maximum speed of 19.5 mph. If you get caught again within 5 years or within the term of the judge you appeared before, it is considered as an insult to the judicial system of Florida and then all the charges are reinstated in addition to the ones you just racked up on the second offense. The relatively small fine for the first time offender is basically a "gift". I think under Florida statutes, unregistered vehicle offenses can be a felony count. You do not want to be caught a second time!
There are also harsh fines for driving a golf cart on roads or crossing roads where they are not permitted. That is why you see signs that state "No Golf Carts Beyond This Point".
There are also rules of use that apply to the multi use paths. These are the paths that run parallel to the main roads (like Morse and Buena Vista Blvd.). Because they are available for use by golf carts, bicycles, in-line skaters and general pedestrians those paths are also restricted to prohibit vehicles that can travel faster than 19.5mph. That is why you do not see motorcycles, mini bikes, go carts or mopeds on those paths. I have heard from law enforcement that there are actions that can be taken against people that show disregard to those rules but I have not heard of any instances where they have been enforced.
Now, with the advent of the new Atomic Golf Carts using the paths, and the fact that they can go well over the 19.5 mph limit, we may start seeing those rules enforced.

You can bet on it. Who going pay for registration and insurance and go 20 MPH down BV or MB? Most can go over 30 mph. I got passed by on on BV going 37 in the right lane. I paced the par car going 39 MPH. To make it even more dangerous it was jacked up one.

So, how do you know you’re speedometer accurate? You could of been going 23 or 24. Some shouldn’t be driving anything. I was behind a person that went around the roundabout on MMP and didn’t turn the steering wheel and bounced off the inner curb. Needless to say I stayed way back from that nut after that.

So true about the cart. They are designed to carry 2 people and their gear on a golf course at about 10-15 mph. So, when you double that speed (which a lot of people want) and you lift the center of gravity (lifted carts) they can be dangerous. Add to that most of them only have mechanical rear brakes like a 1920's car.

Slow down and be safe.

I've been here for many years and I've never once have I had an issue with a driver of a golf cart going too fast...never. However, those of you that think 18mph is fast enough because you've personally decided that's as fast as you are comfortable driving do in fact cause a lot of problems. If you look in your rear-view mirror and see a line of 3 or more golf carts - pull over and let them by (and don't come post here thinking that everyone behind you is driving a corvette inspired golf cart).

I may have allowed the 5 extra minutes as some say to accommodate the 20mph speed limit but I didn't allow the 10+ extra minutes to follow behind someone going 18mph and 5mph around a turn that was designed for 15mph. Just because "you" are not comfortable driving a golf cart at 18mph doesn't mean the rest of us aren't comfortable driving a golf cart at 20mph.

Slow down.. is the perfect rule..
Love to see a few officers on Morse when non street legal feel they can pass other golf carts..
Big fines waiting..

How do you retro fit a governor ?

Got to love these old goats who tinker with their carts governor to go over 20 MPH, then use them as a penile extension to pass folks doing the speed limit.... When they get a ticket the cop ought to have the cart picked up, at the goat owners expense, examined, and if the governor has been tinkered with write the old goat another ticket!

Snowbirds should be required to read up on golf cart driving rules. In one day, last Tuesday, I saw a non-street legal golf cart on Buena Vista going around circle and later on, I saw one on Buena Vista turning onto Rt. 466. Both were regular Yamaha gas golf carts.

To modify the maximum speed on a Yamaha gas cart requires no tools, no retro fitting, a ty-wrap applied in the right spot will make your cart go from 20mph to 25.5 mph. To remove it, takes one second with a knife.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/13...g?v=1571483314

BTW, the biggest mistake by new golf cart drivers in the area south of 466A. Are drivers going east on Pinellas and when they reach Morse, rather than turn left and go through the tunnel, they stay on Pinellas and go around the traffic circle in front of the fire station. One of the busiest and most dangerous traffic circles in TV. I've witnessed it a couple of times. Have to get to the Sarasota Driving Range or Walmart, can't take time for the tunnel.

karosta, your right about engine failure, ask any certified mechanic and they will tell you that these little engines are not designed to go over 20, besides bearing failure the valves will get burned and ruin the engine. When you go thru a tunnel and smell the excess exhaust stink chances are the motor is getting ready to let go because they have them souped up

Extra Ticket for what ? Tinkering ?

Thanks officer for my traffic Tinkering Ticket :1rotfl::1rotfl:

The other day I saw one on Rolling Acres going south, just before 466. No plate on back of cart. :shocked:

kathy

Glad you're not my mechanic. Anyone can increase the speed of their golf cart without touching the governor or the motor and without impacting engine performance.

This explanation aught to be good new lesson in physics

There are quite a few golf carts that will exceed 20MPH, kind of funny that people start obeying laws when laws are enforced.

:agree:

The Villages Insurance told me that if you tinker with your golf cart to increase the speed, and you get in an accident,
you are NOT insured. A sobering thought.

:1rotfl:

My cart will only do 38mph on level ground.


I've heard that using seltzer water and filling all of the batteries to the very top...will give me more speed.








:D

If you look above you will see my post was a response to OrangeBlossomBaby's concern regarding speed and safety making a turn. Where you live and how long you have been there has nothing to do with these realities. The laws of physics apply everywhere.

As far a me coming here posting about corvette inspired golf carts behind me, I made no such statement. If I had, you would know my thoughts on that. Why you felt a need to speculate what my thoughts are on a subject I never said anything about, I don't know.

I had been going 35 and was barely keeping up with a golf cart the other day. I passed him just at the merge point. He did not look happy. Too bad.

Nothing new. The solution is as old as the wheel itself.

Golf carts are not ALLOWED to exceed 20mph even if they can, even in an area where the speed limit is 25, if their cart is not street legal. Most carts are not street legal. Most carts can't go 20MPH unless they've been modified - they usually come with a top speed of 18mph.

Rental golf carts are set at 16mph max.

If you want to behave like speedy gonzalez and that extra 2mph is a deal-breaker for you, then street-legalize your golf cart and drive in the main traffic lane - and get off the golf cart paths entirely.