[CFrance]

Originally Posted by andercat

We were in TV over Labor Day and will be returning in 2 weeks to buy a home. I had difficulties with the roundabouts. Are they all the same? It seemed that some of them let both the left and right lane turn right at the first quarter around. If you are in the right lane, is it mandatory to turn right at the first quarter? If they are all the same, it would be easier to get the hang of using them.

I think they are all the same, at least 466 on south. You may turn right or go straight through (think four-way intersection) in the right lane. However, if you are going 3/4 of the way through (as if you were turning left at a four-way intersection), you MUST travel in the inside (left) lane. When you begin to cross over to make that turn, make sure you have your right turn signal on so people approaching the roundabout will yield--which they are supposed to do anyway, but some won't because they think yield doesn't mean for that lane if they are not going to use it.

The other thing to remember is that the yield sign when you approach the roundabout means yield to BOTH lanes in the roundabout. If you see a car in either lane, you must yield.

One more thing... Don't enter the roundabout at the same time as another car who may be next to you as you approach the roundabout.

Hope this helps.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

After driving in downtown Boston for 40 years, Manhattan for a little while and Manila, The Philippines for a year, the Villages is a piece of cake. It is one of the easiest most driver friendly places I've ever driven.

[HMLRHT1]

Come to a complete stop at stop signs with ur car and cart!

[boomerbaby]

I always assume the other driver is going to do something stupid so I try to be aware of them and I always count to 3 at a stop sign, learned that in drivers ed when I was 16.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by andercat

We were in TV over Labor Day and will be returning in 2 weeks to buy a home. I had difficulties with the roundabouts. Are they all the same? It seemed that some of them let both the left and right lane turn right at the first quarter around. If you are in the right lane, is it mandatory to turn right at the first quarter? If they are all the same, it would be easier to get the hang of using them.

This will help you to undestand the roundabouts:
http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3939

[Serenoa]

This goes for anyone, anywhere.......Use your dang TURN SIGNALS.

For those totally unaware that your vehicle is equipped with such.....it's the little lever on the left hand side of your steering column. Push it UP for a right turn; DOWN for a left turn. It's not hard & takes very little physical effort. Most important, it gives other drivers on the road around you a good clue about your INTENTIONS.

[John_W]

I've seen countless times car drivers not know what to do when there is golf cart traffic to their right in the cart lane and they want to make a right turn. They stop, they wave at the cart driver, they speed up to pass the cart. Just like a golf cart enters the car lane to make a left turn, you should move to your right and enter the golf cart lane before making your right turn. This way the golf cart driver and you the car driver will know each other's sequence. So next time you need to make a right turn, put on your right turn signal and slide over to the right a short ways before the intersection in a good position with carts ahead and behind you. You'll find that making right turns will become a cinch.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

This goes for anyone, anywhere.......Use your dang TURN SIGNALS.

For those totally unaware that your vehicle is equipped with such.....it's the little lever on the left hand side of your steering column. Push it UP for a right turn; DOWN for a left turn. It's not hard & takes very little physical effort. Most important, it gives other drivers on the road around you a good clue about your INTENTIONS.

I see more wasted time from signal errors than any other thing.
Please with dark chocolate peanut butter cups on it....know that your signal makes all the difference in aiding the flow of traffic because you are communicating your intention to those around you.

If you wait too late to signal, or even brake first, it's just about the same as not signaling as far as being a good communicator. You lost a chance to give people a heads up so they might enter the street you are on while you slow down to turn. Now they'll wait for 6 more cars, 3 carts and a concrete truck.

[2BNTV]

Expect the unexpected at least that's what they informed in defensive driving school.

I agree that blinkers in cars are there for a reason as well as seat belts.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by John_W

I've seen countless times car drivers not know what to do when there is golf cart traffic to their right in the cart lane and they want to make a right turn. They stop, they wave at the cart driver, they speed up to pass the cart. Just like a golf cart enters the car lane to make a left turn, you should move to your right and enter the golf cart lane before making your right turn. This way the golf cart driver and you the car driver will know each other's sequence. So next time you need to make a right turn, put on your right turn signal and slide over to the right a short ways before the intersection in a good position with carts ahead and behind you. You'll find that making right turns will become a cinch.

I don't know that I agree with this. All carts must exit the golf cart lane before an intersection anyway, so there is really no golf cart lane up at the intersection. The intersection would consist of a line of golf carts (who have exited when the golf cart lane disappeared) and cars, all in one lane. I can't think of any four-lane roads that have golf cart lanes, so what need would there be to get into a golf cart lane before an intersection on a single lane street?

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

This goes for anyone, anywhere.......Use your dang TURN SIGNALS.

For those totally unaware that your vehicle is equipped with such.....it's the little lever on the left hand side of your steering column. Push it UP for a right turn; DOWN for a left turn. It's not hard & takes very little physical effort. Most important, it gives other drivers on the road around you a good clue about your INTENTIONS.

Umm... all Michiganders are exempt from this rule.

[TheVillageChicken]

This might be helpful

[John_W]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I don't know that I agree with this. All carts must exit the golf cart lane before an intersection anyway, so there is really no golf cart lane up at the intersection.

Your reply tells me you don't understand and probably aren't doing a right turn properly. The next time you're southbound on St. Charles and want to make a right turn on Tamarind Grove Blvd, what are those golf carts southbound on your right going to do? They aren't going to exit the road just because you want to make a right turn. This pertains to when cars and carts share the same roadway. Happens anywhere there is a painted cart lane to the right.

So remember, just like a golf cart enters the car lane to make a left turn, you should move to your right and enter the golf cart lane before making your right turn. This way the golf cart driver and you the car driver will know each others sequence.

[ilovetv]

I think everyone issued a resident ID card (and renters getting the owner's ID card transferred to them) should first have to attend a one-time class on "Driving in The Villages 101".

It would cover
- everything in this linked Roundabout Brochure, and especially the advisory "DO NOT ENTER next to a vehicle in the roundabout, as that vehicle may be exiting at the next exit" (http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3939 )
- everything about driving golf carts on multi-modal paths and diamond lanes;
- the ramifications of speeding in a non-street legal cart and what the fines add up to;
- tunnels and turning into them squarely instead of cutting diagonally across the other driver's lane;
- and all the things people complain about on these threads;
- what a turn signal is for;
- and everything else that's unique about driving in this huge place.

They are VALID complaints but people can be taught!

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I think everyone issued a resident ID card (and renters getting the owner's ID card transferred to them) should first have to attend a one-time class on "Driving in The Villages 101".

It would cover
- everything in this linked Roundabout Brochure, and especially the advisory "DO NOT ENTER next to a vehicle in the roundabout, as that vehicle may be exiting at the next exit" (http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3939 )
- everything about driving golf carts on multi-modal paths and diamond lanes;
- the ramifications of speeding in a non-street legal cart and what the fines add up to;
- tunnels and turning into them squarely instead of cutting diagonally across the other driver's lane;
- and all the things people complain about on these threads;
- what a turn signal is for;
- and everything else that's unique about driving in this huge place.

They are VALID complaints but people can be taught!

Yes, yes, yes!