Leave your bad driving habits back in the state where you moved from, no hurry zone, leave early and enjoy the ride please !!

We have a speedometer on our cart and some people are poking along at 14-15 miles an hour. That may be why you see carts passing other carts.

What percentage of the golf cart accidents here are attributed to excessive speed?

Semi retired
 

Not everyone in The Villages is retired and maybe the person passing is coming/going from work and has to be at work or at a tee time. Cars pass each other all the time so why such a big deal if you get passed by a golf car. I get passed all the time and I'm not the slowest and obviously not the fastest.

ABSOLUTELY. I even had a Golf cart pass me on the right when I was doing 30 in my car! Scared the living hell out of me. My cart does 20 MPH right on the nose and every now and then will get up to 21/22 down a nice hill and hardly a time goes by when I do not have someone trying to push me or pass me.

On the other hand those that do 15 can be dangerous, but aren't we retired, slow down and enjoy life, relax go with the flow.

My wife and I are seeing this more often than we like. At first it was humorous, but now seeing an 'old fart' with his baseball hat turned around backwards, flying by us (we were doing 21.3 mph) is not funny! It is as if 'the inner youth' has returned, but in a dangerous way. Golf carts have little 'bargaining power' in confrontations with cars and very little in the way of protection for their occupants. What is the hurry? Slow down just a little bit and share the road safely.

Be careful, you just admitted to a crime and will cost you ~$800.


:ohdear:

Yes it is an issue. Our golf cart is designed with a top speed of 22 mph with a normal cruising max of 20 mph. On many occasions golf carts(all gas) pass at a much higher speed. On Pinellas place I saw a cart pass several others. I was in the car and followed the cart at 29 mph.

I have noticed that on many occasions drivers fail to maintain 20 mph sometimes traveling between 15 and 17 mph. This causes carts to back up behind the slow cart. Then a cart comes up behind that is trying to make a t time or softball game time or some other activity time and this results in the last cart having to pass. If people would maintain 20 mph a lot of passing would be impossible unless a cart is modified to exceed 20 mph. Then the police can deal with that.

Ask Yourself
 

Why not ask yourself why you are upset because a golf cart passed you. If you are going the speed you like then so what if someone goes by. There is a certain "competitiveness" and you probably view it as an insult that someone had the nerve to actually go faster than you? The more serious question is not that a cart passed you but rather why are you upset they did. Just another indication that you are unsettled with yourself and have adopted an attitude that is unhealthy. It's best not to try to analyze why someone has the need to go faster but again why do you care and what is the underlying cause of your anxious attitude? Be thankful for what you have and your ability to just enjoy life!!!:ho:

Speed
 

Some of us just like speed.

Because in many places the golf cart lanes are forced to merge with regular auto traffic, being able to go over 20 for a short distance is invaluable.

I'm more concerned with the nutball yard guys, UPS and Fed-ex racing around corners on 2 wheels through the neighborhoods, while folks are strolling or walking their dogs. If I was a Sumter or Lake deputy, I'd have a field day ticketing these clowns. The Villages apparently decided more houses per neighborhood was more important than sidewalks. God forbid that the Morse Family should sacrifice a bit of profit for sensible safety. Wait until someone's grandchild gets hit!

I’m MUCH more concerned about 50+ MPH on BV and Morse than carts. It’s time for Sumter County to get serious about patrols.

Passing a Cart
 

I have a speedometer in my golf cart that I have tested so I know it is accurate. I'll typically drive between 21 and 22 mph. Carts frequently pass me and occasionally I'll speed up to check their speed before I slow back down. Carts frequently are going 25 mph and faster. The police periodically will enforce the 20 mph law. When they catch these speeders, they will be charged with driving an unregistered vehicle. In Sumter County, they will have to appear before a judge, attend driver school and get points on their license which will affect their car insurance. Also, they will have to pay about $250 for the incident plus another $25+ to show they had their speed governor adjusted by a technician to lower their high speed to 20 mph. Does it make sense to speed and pass carts going at roughly 20 mph - NO. If the cart is going slower ans it's a safe passing zone - NO PROBLEM.

I find it hard to comprehend the idiotic comments on Golf Carts. In my 18 years here in the Villages, i have seen deaths caused by Golf Carts, they disintegrate at 5 mph, and occupants have no protection. So many idiots break the law’s speed limits, because they think Carts are like a Carnival fun bumper cars. So many convicted criminals with no Drivers License, and Senior Citizens that cant drive because they are blind and or deaf, driving Golf Carts, on our roads, public and private. And these ignorant ones that think its fun, shame on you.

If you are truly concerned about that, then move to Fenney.

Fenney and the other neighborhoods south of 44 have miles and miles of walking trails where no motorized vehicles are allowed.

We live in Osceola Hills but we never walk in our neighborhood. If w want to go for a nice walk, we drive a few miles to Marsh Bend or Linden.

Speeding in golf carts, as well as cars, is a problem in the villages

If 3 cars need to passed it means the lead car is pacing everyone. Passing 1 cart no problem, passing 3 carts keep your head up. Usually not a good idea.

Ya think?

Failure to STOP at stop signs is a HUGE problem. I wish it was addressed by the sheriff's office. So bad - that the other day - my husband stopped after the gate at the stop sign and another driver harassed him for stopping. Unbelievable!!! Look Left - right LEFT after stopping would save many accidents. Most people don't even look. And that BRIDGE going over Sumter - why can't you drive the 10mph posted speed limit - that is so narrow and dangerous. I have been passed - and harassed. Why be in a hurry - this place is gorgeous. Enjoy the lifestyle - BREATHE!!!

State Statutes - For Real
 

Here's the actual State of Florida Statutes, for those who wanna know:
Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

I don't think it is limited to that area. Terrible on the cart path from Laurel M. area to Sumter landing. So dangerous, many near bad accidents. Some will take any chance to "floor it" at much higher speeds than posted; EVEN where the trail splits they will try to "make it" before the split. What I can't understand, my cart was tested at dealer, was actually at 20.5. When I told dealer in Jan. that I HAD to do something to increase speed as I was having people whizzing past constantly when I was going top speed, 3 dealers told me they are not "allowed by law" (?) to do anything to increase speed (law ? or law suits I was thinking ?), I began to wonder, do that many residents actually know how to make their carts run so fast by working on them ??? One out ran my auto which was going 26 mph on Belvidere just two days ago !)

:duck: Yep! It’s time to enjoy, your not in the Rat Race anymore. Slow down, move over for those who are still on track to higher blood pressure meds.

Very well said.

I cannot understand the impatience and hurry everyone is in. Slow down & enjoy the time you have left.

My salesman told me that if Joe Blow tells you how to disengage the governor to go over the 20 mph, be aware that nullifies the warranty :boom: and they can tell when the engine is checked.

The other relevant statute addresses the definition of a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) requiring license and insurance for golf carts that can travel between 20 and 25 MPH. That's a fairly tight window, but it is the law.

Yes ! Exactly what I have experienced. People actually harassing you for going right at the limit for carts ! One man actually followed me into Walmart parking lot and parked right next to me, AFTER angerly pulling out and around, and THEN having to stop at the light just past Steak & Shake. And, NO, I was not "poking along", I was doing the 20.5 mph that my cart will do ! And while I am expressing my frustration, has anyone else experienced this: Going through cart gate on Belvidere near the high school, a auto stopped at gate, goes through when arm lifts, and then "floors it" immediately to turn RIGHT from the auto lane, cutting right in front of your cart so suddenly you barely miss crashing into the passenger side of the auto ? This is very frightening as in most cases you have NO idea they are trying to "beat" you, or that they would not wait to turn right in front of you until you had cleared the street (less than 5 SECONDS) ! I realize police might say the autos have the right to turn in front of a cart in the cart lane of street, but, to "race" a cart just to get to street first ? In the case of Belvidere, the first right turn is literally yards from the gate.

Amen ! !

All so (sadly) true.

I have to disagree with you.

Pinellas Place has many golf carts going 25, 30+ mph on a daily basis.
They’re passing because they want to go well over the 20 mph.

Relax and let them pass.

I find it strange that people would try to “race” a golf cart... on our Lifestyle visit we watched a couple of guys in a golf cart speed around a curb going towards Sumter Landing, hit the curb and go down sideways. They were buckled in. Hubby and another person righted the cart and off the cart went full speed ahead like nothing happened.

Exactly! Amazing how upset people get, and how personal they take being passed. Good grief! Have they never had someone pass them while driving a car?

Yeah. I've seen golf carts passing. Please, get out of the way.

Yes. Also, failure to obey stop signs.

I'm sure it's wonderful for people who are retired, with all the time and money in the world to do whatever they want, whenever they like, and relax and enjoy their lives.

But some of us still have to work for a living. This isn't a retirement community. It's a 55+ community. And social security doesn't kick in til you're 62, minimum. Medicare takes even longer.

You know what they say, No Brain, No Pain.:ohdear:

We are new villagers and carts pass us when we are going full speed. We don’t mind ... just be safe and have fun. We are all so blessed to live in this paradise.

yep, you are correct. I reread the article and he doesn't say he was going "just" over the speed limit. I must have been confused with another post....so I wouldn't be surprised if he was clipping along at 25 or more, and THAT got noticed...
:coolsmiley: