[KathieI]

Last night around 7pm there was a very serious looking accident at this intersection again. Looks like 2 cars involved, one was broadsided on passenger side and it looked to me like 2 airbags were deployed. (is that the right word?) The response from Fire, Sumter Police, Sheriff's and tow trucks was huge, probably 8 trucks or more in total. No paramedics that I could see, but I asked a fireman if everyone was okay, and he said yes, thank God.

But what's up with that intersection??? Strange huh... Very large intersection with traffic lights and turn lights, so why so many accidents? There's nothing that blocks a drivers vision, no sharp turns, its straight road. So why 2 bad accidents in a few months??? Very strange and I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas. Do you think they should do a traffic study on this intersection? I do....

[Roaddog53]

What I have seen on this one and Beuno Vista Ave/466A is someone tries to make the "final" left hand turn when the light is red for them. I saw this twice myself and witnessed a near accident when someone slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting them. Maybe its the size of the turn or neither is paying attention to what is coming

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Last night around 7pm there was a very serious looking accident at this intersection again. Looks like 2 cars involved, one was broadsided on passenger side and it looked to me like 2 airbags were deployed. (is that the right word?) The response from Fire, Sumter Police, Sheriff's and tow trucks was huge, probably 8 trucks or more in total. No paramedics that I could see, but I asked a fireman if everyone was okay, and he said yes, thank God.

But what's up with that intersection??? Strange huh... Very large intersection with traffic lights and turn lights, so why so many accidents? There's nothing that blocks a drivers vision, no sharp turns, its straight road. So why 2 bad accidents in a few months??? Very strange and I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas. Do you think they should do a traffic study on this intersection? I do....

People in a hurry who then run a light because they see little traffic?? Cannot remember any distractions at this intersection either. No buffalo to look at or houses to check out.

[George Bieniaszek]

Seems like there are a lot of drivers, car and golf cart, that are in a hurry. They modify their "non-street legal" golf carts to race around The Villages, and drive aggressively and speed in their cars. There have been a rash of traffic crashes, both cars and carts, in The Villages at intersections where there shouldn't be any sight-line issues or anything. Speed, inattention are the major problems in my opinion.

I drive a large 3/4 ton Dodge Ram as my personal vehicle and because of it's size, I pay close attention to my speed. There is rarely a time that people are not tailgating me to the point that I barely see them in my rear view mirror.

Please take a breath fellow Villagers. This is a retirement community and you shouldn't be driving like you were qualifying for the Daytona 500.

[Happinow]

[NotGolfer]

Again...too many folks in a hurry! Then add the fact that there are people driving who shouldn't be. I've seen people "blow" through stop signs no matter if they're the stop/go type or the octangular kind. Distractions come in many forms! Could be fiddling, with the radio, texting, talking on their cell-phone (don't get me started on THAT one!!!), or spilling something. I'm glad noone was killed in this latest one!!!

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Again...too many folks in a hurry! Then add the fact that there are people driving who shouldn't be. I've seen people "blow" through stop signs no matter if they're the stop/go type or the octangular kind. Distractions come in many forms! Could be fiddling, with the radio, texting, talking on their cell-phone (don't get me started on THAT one!!!), or spilling something. I'm glad noone was killed in this latest one!!!

the answer is simple, stupidity!

[memason]

Originally Posted by looneycat

the answer is simple, stupidity!

Well, I disagree with that assessment...

I think the speed limits are so low throughout The Villages, that folks become complacent. When folks get to places, where the speed limits are more normal (45 ~ 55), they just don't adjust as quickly to those speeds.

Just an opinion . . .

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Last night around 7pm there was a very serious looking accident at this intersection again. Looks like 2 cars involved, one was broadsided on passenger side and it looked to me like 2 airbags were deployed. (is that the right word?) The response from Fire, Sumter Police, Sheriff's and tow trucks was huge, probably 8 trucks or more in total. No paramedics that I could see, but I asked a fireman if everyone was okay, and he said yes, thank God.

But what's up with that intersection??? Strange huh... Very large intersection with traffic lights and turn lights, so why so many accidents? There's nothing that blocks a drivers vision, no sharp turns, its straight road. So why 2 bad accidents in a few months??? Very strange and I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas. Do you think they should do a traffic study on this intersection? I do....

Just another drug related incident?

[bluedog103]

Driver inattention and confusion. Too many drivers on medications, both legal and illegal which impair their judgement and reaction times. As we age our reflexes slow down, that's just the way it is. When you add chemicals to the equation it doesn't take much to create a hazardous sitation.

[billethkid]

Too many in a hurry to go no place.
Too many on meds of one kind or another.
Too many who cannot see sufficiently (I can't tell you how many times I see a car waiting to come out into traffic and then at the last minute they pull out....they waited until they could see the traffic!!!!!!!).
Way, way too many behind the wheel that should not be for their age/health/ability.

I vote for once past the age of _ ? _ (pick a number _ ? _....I say 75) there should be at a minimum, vision testing every other year.

One of the scariest things I ever heard was when my mother 87 called and said she got her drivers license renewed and it was for 8 years!!!

We always, ALWAYS, caution our visitors to drive defensively when here in TV....to always assume a driver will do what they should not do.

btk

[JLHart]

An accident at the intersection of 2 major roads ... wow ..... who would think that could happen.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by memason

Well, I disagree with that assessment...

I think the speed limits are so low throughout The Villages, that folks become complacent. When folks get to places, where the speed limits are more normal (45 ~ 55), they just don't adjust as quickly to those speeds.

Just an opinion . . .

yep, what I said, stupidity!

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by KathieI

But what's up with that intersection??? Strange huh... Very large intersection with traffic lights and turn lights, so why so many accidents? There's nothing that blocks a drivers vision, no sharp turns, its straight road. So why 2 bad accidents in a few months??? Very strange and I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas. Do you think they should do a traffic study on this intersection? I do....

Everyone provided nice answers as to why there are accidents but Kathie's question is why that particular intersection.

[rubicon]

The reasons accidents are occuring at this intersection have all been stated above. The two roads in question are well traveled