[sdeikenberry]

All the comments are the reason I very rarely drive my car, unless I'm forced to go outside TV. I always drive my golf cart, and am in a much better frame of mind for doing so. It may take me a few more minutes to get to some places, but it's worth it for my mental state of staying calm. Everyone moves mostly the same rate of speed, it's easy to pass a slower cart, almost no stop lights, and very short delays crossing streets with auto traffic. If you plan your life correctly, there is almost no place you need to go that you can't get to by golf cart.

[bowlingal]

Grill Master.....don't sweat the small stuff. This is not important at all. You are going to give yourself a heart attack.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by skyking

I agree with the original post. Most major streets in cities I have lived in are timed to give traffic successive green lights for traffic going the speed limit. In my experience here in Florida you get successive red lights if you drive at the posted speed.

If you hit the first light and drive at the posted speed and the lights are timed for the speed limit.......logically you will hit every red light wouldn’t you?? Just asking

[Ptmckiou]

Being that I’m use to driving in LOs Angeles traffic, bumper to bumper in 6 lanes on the “expressways”, traffic here seems nonexistent and haven’t noticed that many issues. Being retired, every day is Saturday, so not that worried about how long it takes me to get from point “A” to “B”. Not worth sweating the small stuff....

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If you look up, you'll see cameras on the cables connecting the traffic lights. There are also trip-wires under the road near the stop lines. There is also a timer.

This is so that people moving on the main road (such as 441) don't get stuck having to stop when no one is actually trying to cross the road. Unfortunately, if the camera misses you at the wrong moment, you're stuck in the left turn lane for an extra cycle.

The trick to tripping the light, that I've experienced so far:

Look at the lights up ahead when you're far away. Are they red? Well - you're going to miss that cycle then, no matter what you do. Are they yellow? You have a chance. Are they green? If you scoot along at a steady quick clip and make it into the left lane before they turn yellow, it's POSSIBLE you'll get that extra left-turn signal before the next cycle. But you might have to wait til the next cycle anyway.

If you see you're going to miss the signal, then move SLOWLY into that left lane. Do -not- go all the way up to the line. Stop a car-length away. And then, as soon as the side-road gets THEIR left turn, slowly move up to the line. That'll trip it.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by VApeople

I am one of those wonderful drivers.

I don't pull out into the intersection until I am confident I can turn left without pausing.

And by sitting behind the intersection while you have a green light ....and waiting .....instead of proceeding into the intersection, you prevent others behind you from following. As far as I know it is legal and safe for a driver to move into the center of the intersection when the light is green and wait for an opportunity to torn left against oncoming traffic. The light is green!!! Use it! Please!!!

[maggie1]

Originally Posted by VApeople

I am one of those wonderful drivers.

I don't pull out into the intersection until I am confident I can turn left without pausing.

It's conceivable that unless the traffic light has a left turn arrow, you could wait at the stop line for several cycles before traffic approaching from the opposite direction clears. I believe that at an intersection where there is no left turn arrow, you are allowed to enter the intersection on green, wait for traffic from the opposite direction to clear, and then make your left turn. Perhaps a call to a Florida Highway Patrol Post would clear up any confusion.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Sandy and Ed

If you hit the first light and drive at the posted speed and the lights are timed for the speed limit.......logically you will hit every red light wouldn’t you?? Just asking

No. The lights have both a timer and a trip. If less-travelled side-roads suddenly have a car at the front line, it will trip the cycle and reset the timer. If you happen to be approaching the light on the main road when this happens, you are likely to get stuck at the light.

[Neils]

Ride a bike instead. They dont stop

[Sandy and Ed]

I can add two additional frustrations:

The traffic in the rotary has the right of way. Some drivers from one particular unnamed state are apparently taught that traffic entering the circle has the right of way. Result? Traffic in the circle slows and bunches up to allow the incoming vehicle to enter. WRONG.

Next: Rotaries here need some getting use to. Once you have been here awhile this isn’t a problem since you expect it. For newer residents or seasonal residents, this may be an issue. Some of the rotaries have two marked dotted line exit lanes from the rotary both going into some village entrances. It is possible for traffic in the right lane which is proceeding STRAIGHT past the exit to cross with traffic in the left lane attempting to leave the rotary to enter the village. The road markings show a turn possible from the left lane. The issue might. be resolved by somehow changing the road markings to reflect only the right lane may leave the rotary.

I never leave a rotary from the left lane regardless of how the lanes are marked

[tsmall22204]

State and local traffic engineers in Florida are definitely not on the same page. Bad driving is often the result of bad traffic engineers. Let that sink in.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

...and the unseen person, perhaps on a motorcycle, traveling in the opposite direction will hit you when you’re turning.

[Skunky1]

Left turn accidents are the worst! Stay out of the intersection until it’s safe to make your left turn

[J1ceasar]

I really have to laugh at your comments about traffic in Leesburg and the signals. Maybe you should realize that the lights are synchronized exactly so you cannot go through two of them! Leesburg has only two lanes each way and it's done this way specifically so you don't go 55 miles an hour in a 35 mile an hour zone. Unlike the villages area of 27/441 where there are three lanes each way, Leesburg has many many more intersections per mile on its main thoroughfare going north south and it's done for safety meaning your safety. It's bad enough everyone trying to get in and out to go somewhere fast just remember you're retired and you don't have to get there fast. And really if you don't like it take one of the East-West routes to 301 and see how you like that.

[J1ceasar]

5 minutes of your life I feel sorry for you