[John_W]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I've lived in several different states in this country and don't notice any difference in the way drivers drive here and any place else.

As far a "blowing though" stop signs, I really don't see people doing that either. I do see some people come to a complete stop and seemingly count to five or something when it is perfectly safe to proceed. I also see some people slow down enough to see that it is perfectly safe to proceed and then do so.

I agree with the Doctor, I haven't noticed it any different or a big problem. The exception would be 'turning right on red'. It seems if your oncoming car is not within 50' of the intersection they will turn right in front of you even if you're going 50 mph. On 466 and 466A people really should consider the speed of the approaching vehicle combined with the distance before pulling into your path. I know many years ago when I drove a motorcycle, I had to learn to be a defensive driver for these type events or it would adios.

My biggest gripe is not using turn signals and driving in the left lane on 466 and 466A at a slow speed. Everyday I'm going either east or west on 466A and cars will clog up the left lane, I guess in anticipation of some turn they need to make in 3 or 4 miles. How inconvenient it must be to have to drive in the right lane and let faster cars go by.

Turn signals should be for warning drivers of your intentions in advance and not to already state the obvious. If you're in the turn lane, then putting on your turn signal after you've entered the lane is rather useless. If you had put on your turn signal 50 yards before changing lanes to enter the turning lane, then you would be providing some notice and would be labeled a considerate driver.

[Autoshow]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Anyone who can do anything about blowing through stop signs and red lights will not be at the right place at the right time to do anything about it. It's part of driving here. If you go about your day anticipating that people won't stop for lights or signs then you can drive defensively and avoid an accident or worse. Some people don't care who they hurt as long as they get to their destination. I've saved my own life multiple times while driving here just by being prepared when others to do the wrong thing. Also, don't expect for cars to stop when a gait is broken even though there is a stop sign at the broken gait. My husband was on the cart at the Liberty Park gait, which is broken, and a car blew right through the double stop sign. If my husband hadn't anticipated the car not stopping he could have been killed. It's where we live so you may as well get used to it.

You got the perfect answer,that's exactly what I do,it is called defensive driving.

[Rango]

I'm seasonal. In my home county everyone uses turn signals and stop at stop signs.

We also have 3 reported rapes a week and average 20 murders per year.

We sure have a serious problem here in The Villages

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I've lived in several different states in this country and don't notice any difference in the way drivers drive here and any place else.

As far a "blowing though" stop signs, I really don't see people doing that either. I do see some people come to a complete stop and seemingly count to five or something when it is perfectly safe to proceed. I also see some people slow down enough to see that it is perfectly safe to proceed and then do so.

As far as enforcement, the Sherrif's Dept or most other LEs are not going to harass people when they are not posing a safety risk. A driver that slows down to five miles per hour at a stop sing and can see for a half of a mile in either direction, then continues without make a "full and complete stop with zero rotation of the wheels" is not endangering anyone.

And before everyone starts with the letter of the law, I am quite aware of what it says. I'm just saying that as long as drivers proceed safely it would be unreasonable to ticket them.

I had a woman who was fully stopped at an intersection pull out in front of me when I was only few yards from the intersection. I was approaching from her left. she looked right at me and then turned to look to her right. when she saw no one coming from her right she puled out and went straight across the intersection. She must have forgotten that I was coming from the other direction. So much for the full and complete stop being so safe.

Now if someone truly blows through a stop sign and causes an accident or causes someone to jam on their brakes in order to avoid a collision they deserve to be ticketed.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I stop for stop signs, and I use my turn signals,(even turning into my own driveway at 2 in the morning) that is the way my grandfather taught me to drive. So what do you think of a program to have fellow villagers do the same? No idea how we would accomplish this but I think it would be a great idea. Bumper stickers??

Naw. Beatings and public stocks at all squares is my suggestion.



In my golf cart I was stopped at a stop sign, being sure I was clear and a guy in his golf cart went around me.

I have already told about this several times on this forum. Some will remember that I noted what team sticker was on his golf cart.

[justjim]

Drivers come to a rolling stop everywhere. We use to live on a relative busy street in Illinois and one house from the corner stop sign. About half of the cars came to a complete stop. I know because I sit on my front porch sometimes drinking my morning coffee. I can remember only one accident in the five years we lived there and that was a rear end accident.

TV is no different from any place else IMHO.

[slipcovers]

Originally Posted by Rango

I'm seasonal. In my home county everyone uses turn signals and stop at stop signs.

We also have 3 reported rapes a week and average 20 murders per year.

We sure have a serious problem here in The Villages

What??????? Could you explain your post??

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by DonH57

Driving defensively is the order of the day here in TV. I can't count how many times I've seen a car come down a side street to my right and blow thru the stop sign not even looking to their left to see if someone is there. How these people are still alive is beyond me.

I agree that completely blowing through a stop sign without slowing down or looking is very dangerous.

The thing is that so many of the intersections here have great visibility. You can often see a quarter of a mile in every direction when you are approaching fifty yards from the intersection. In those cases people that slow down and proceed safely are not driving dangerously.

Although I'm sure it happens, I don't think I've personally ever seen anyone down here completely blow through a stop sign without slowing down any looking.

[Bizdoc]

I regularly see the Tour de France re-enactors blow thru stop signs, yield signs and red lights. And the accident reports are pretty clear that lots of folks blow thru stop signs. Collective death wish?

[kb8tpw]

This entire thread does much to validate my thoughts about the largest portion of the Villages population. They think the world owes them and they are going to do what they darn well want to. It is a prevalent attitude in this place !! if the shoe fits, well.......

[Christine G]

Thought it was compulsory to stop at a red light before turning right etc etc, rolling through the light is illegal and rewarded if caught, by a fine, unfortunately there don't seem to be any red light cameras here! In Lakeland, they constantly caught people doing it and the police constantly reminded everyone that it IS compulsory to come to a complete stop before turning right. Seen people turning left on a red light in front of oncoming traffic, they don't seem to care much if they kill themselves or anyone else. You have to drive with your wits about you all the time, and anticipate what these crazy drivers are going to do next.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by Christine G

....unfortunately there don't seem to be any red light cameras here....

THANK GOD....they are nothing more than another government money grab....can you spell TAX!!!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

I regularly see the Tour de France re-enactors blow thru stop signs, yield signs and red lights. And the accident reports are pretty clear that lots of folks blow thru stop signs. Collective death wish?

You have access to accident reports that show a good number of accidents caused by people blowing through stops signs? Where can I see them? How many of this types of accidents have there been?

[Miles42]

I am beginning to think that rolling stops are a way of life for citizens of the USA. it is nation wide not just here in The Villages.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by slipcovers

There are people that actually believe that the roundabouts should be removed and replaced with stop signs. I can just imagine what a nightmare that would be.

Yes, I'm one of those people!

The circles are a hazard because everyone drives them differently and they are too small in diameter for the purpose they were designed to handle.
Or were they simply put in as eye candy for would-be buyers to say how beautiful they are???
Did you have all these circles where you came from? No! No one did.
You had traffic lights and stop signs.
Were they a problem?
I'm sure not, with perhaps an issue or two here and there which could happen anywhere.

The truth of the matter is that the circles are a nightmare.
They do not control traffic; they only confuse and intimidate most driveers.
No one knows how to drive around them.

So why would stop signs be so terrible here when stop signs are what everyone that lives here is used to and probably what they grew up with their entire life.

Huh?