Talk of The Villages Florida - Golf Cart vs Car

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I agree! That is the proper way to turn to avoid an accident. I wish more people would do it.

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Originally Posted by John_W (Post 1915406)

Yes, your crossing the golf cart driver's lane, so you intruding into his space. I have to make a right turn most of the times when I return home on St. Charles Blvd, and we have golf cart lanes and it's very busy road since they're four Villages along that road.

I found the best method is to do just like that golf carts. They merge into the car lane to make a left turn, when I'm preparing to make my right turn about 100 yards beforehand, I look for spacing and increase or decrease my speed as necessary and move my car gently into the golf cart lane just a couple of feet. This eliminates any hesitation or concern from the golf cart driver's mind. You have your turn signal activated, and you've spaced yourself appropriately between or in front of the moving carts. I've been doing this with no problems for ten years, and other drivers have started to pick up on it.

You know the old phrase "Kiss - Keep it simple stupid". I believe this is the most simple answer to avoid collisions on roads with golf cart lanes and avoid this happening.

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I received this same wisdom from a neighbor when new to the Villages. So that’s what I do, safely merge 1/2 way into the cart lane before arriving at the turn. Then no additional carts can come up to your blind spot. And signal, signal, signal! No secrets please!

John, you have been watching me, haven't you? I execute the very same maneuver, and I also travel St. Charles and turn right onto Pennecamp. With turn signals on and this execution, there is no way a golf cart driver will be cut off and damaged even if his thoughts are elsewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseppe (Post 1915379)

Several times I've seen issues with a car needing to make a right turn into a street and a line of golf carts in the golf cart lane preventing the car's ability to turn. Is it correct to assume that the golf carts have the right of way and the car needs to wait until the line of carts passes? Picture a golf cart parade / rally and a busy road and you have a traffic problem. At this particular intersection I have seen lines of 8 - 10 golf carts before the car has a chance to make the turn safely. Comments / Suggestions?

Reality-A golf cart, an unlicensed vehicle is a second class individual. In most cases the car has the right of way. Assuming that all drivers know the law and will follow the law is of course a major reach.

A line of 8-10 golf carts. Sometimes it is a matter of courtesy sometimes called common sense. One golf cart can slow down and allow the car to safely make the turn
rather than forcing the car to cut one of the golf carts off.

The goal is, should be cooperation and everyone gets there without an accident. Even the term accident is misleading. Almost all accidents are avoidable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toymeister (Post 1915477)

I can prove this to you quite simply. If it was a line of cyclists in the cart lane would you jump in the lane? Even if you are too much of a hurry to wait for the cyclists? What if there are 18 cyclists are you in the right then?.

As someone who drove and cycled in an area where bikes are much more common than here, yes, that is exactly what you do. If the car is in the bike lane turning right bikes going straight can then pass on the left.

It was even taught that way to my kids in driver’s Ed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMar (Post 1915585)

I agree, keep doing what you makes you comfortable, the police seem to be ok with cars sliding into the cart lane when making a right turn....in fact I have seen them do the same thing when turning into our mail stop. Sometimes common sense takes precedence over statutes.

Dont compare yourself to police. They can violate traffic laws in certain situations. You cant!!

The thing I was a little disturbed about was it seemed to me that everyone seems to be in a big hurry to go nowhere. What’s the hurry! Cars & Carts don’t mix, car win 100% of the time. I always let the car or cart go first no matter which I was in. To me it seems like neither wants to wait on the other. Sorry, but that’s how I feel. Leave for your destination early even if you are early. Lots of HOT heads out there!

All you have to do is ride the white line with your car and your blinker on. That is just enough warning needed to let a cart know you are turning right across the golf cart lane.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseppe (Post 1915379)

At this particular intersection I have seen lines of 8 - 10 golf carts before the car has a chance to make the turn safely. Comments / Suggestions?

Simple answer: WAIT

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Originally Posted by John_W (Post 1915497)

You're not quite following, and I explained as clear as I could, and you've overthought the situation. Whatever vehicle is in the golf cart lane has the right of way, I've already stated that. It doesn't matter if it's a go-kart, a bicycle, an ATV or 20 bicycles, or 15 carts going to a parade.

When you plan your turn, you adjust (your) speed, you can change your car speed a lot better than a golf cart can change theirs. You accelerate or slow down and can go ahead or behind the traffic. You're simply giving everyone a heads up to your intentions by picking a spot and moving slightly right, not all the way to the cart lane, just enough so they your movement copmbined with your turn signal will indicate intentions are going to be. It no different than a golf cart moving left into the car lane to make a left turn.

You added a bicycle into the equation, they're no different, only slower than a golf cart, and you added 20 bikes, that's no different than 3, 4 or 5 carts in row close together. You adjust, when you drive a car you making a series of adjustments all the time.

Village Tinker understood it and had done it for years, Bogey understood it and liked the suggestion. If you don't understand it, just keep doing what you've been doing, whatever feels comfortable for you.

First of all, your example is a poor one, there would never be 18 bicycles in the golf cart lane. They take up the entire car lane, that's the way they operate in TV. Let's say, today all 18 bikes were in the golf cart lane and you in your car came up along side with your right turn signal on. Would they know anything other than you're going to make a right turn, would freeze and pile into one another, or they continue and pedal faster. They don't know if you're going to cut them off, how about the cars behind you If I were driving and saw 18 bikes in the cart lane and I was going 30 mph in my car and I had to make a turn in 200 yards, I look ahead and determine if there was time to accelerate and move safely far enough ahead of the pack and make my right right, or I would slow my speed to say 15 to 20 mph so that by time I reached the corner I could turn behind the pack. It's part of operating a motor vehicle.

Sounds like you are butting in line whole telling the golf carts what you want to do. You would not have to worry about the golf cart knowing your intentions if you weren’t so close to them. Be patient and let them pass before turning.

Florida Law applies

Cars, carts, motorcycles and mopeds are all vehicles and Florida's law rules. 316.003 – Definitions

(77) Street or Highway

(a) The entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic;

(b) The entire width between the boundary lines of any privately owned way or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons, or any limited access road owned or controlled by a special district, whenever, by written agreement entered into under s. 316.006(2)(b) or (3)(b), a county or municipality exercises traffic control jurisdiction over said way or place;

Local authorities may enact ordinances related to golf carts on sidewalks under certain circumstances. That does not seem to include operating golf carts in bike lanes

s. 316.008 – Powers of Local Authorities

(7) A county or municipality may enact an ordinance to permit, control, or regulate the operation of vehicles, golf carts, mopeds, motorized scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks or sidewalk areas when such use is permissible under federal law. The ordinance must restrict such vehicles or devices to a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour in such areas.

Other statutes apply to the operation of golf carts in the roadway.

s. 316.212 – Operation of Golf Carts on Certain Roadways

The operation of a golf cart upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohibited except as provided herein:

(1) A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road that has been designated by a county, a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality, or a two-lane county road located within the jurisdiction of a municipality designated by that municipality, for use by golf carts. Prior to making such a designation, the responsible local governmental entity must first determine that golf carts may safely travel on or cross the public road or street, considering factors including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the road or street. Upon a determination that golf carts may be safely operated on a designated road or street, the responsible governmental entity shall post appropriate signs to indicate that such operation is allowed.

The full statute is here:

Chapter 316 Section 212 - 2016 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

s. 316.003 – Definitions

(64) Roadway – That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.

Note that the paved shoulder is not part of the roadway and that vehicles must be driven on the roadway.

s. 316.081– Driving on Right Side of Roadway; Exceptions

(1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway

s. 316.081 – Driving on Right Side of Roadway; Exceptions

(2) Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway

s. 316.081 Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions

(2) Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

Whatever happened to common courtesy and COOMON SENSE. If we all practice these things would we really need all the laws of the roadway?

:popcorn::popcorn:

This is why there are accidents.

:popcorn::popcorn: