[toeser]

I completely agree. We have the worst traffic signal timing here of anyplace I have ever lived. A trip to Ocala or a trip south through Lady Lake and Leesburg can often take double the time it should with some reasonably timed lights. There is no way to time lights so everyone gets through without having to stop, but like you, I have hit 100% red lights sometimes trying to get through these cities.

[Pinball wizard]

Granted this is from Alberta...

Left Hand Turn Demonstration - YouTube

[wrestle1]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Are you talking about a left turn when you have a green ball?

If so, it is NOT illegal. It is in fact the correct and 100% legal way to make your left turn.

You are correct, legal and a courteous and safe method to keep left turn traffic flowing. I’m assuming Girlcopper was joking.

[tallmanf]

Quite the rant. I myself had to learn how to slow down. I’m retired, not running to work, taking kids to school, etc. enjoy the ride.

[Fuzzy]

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.

Many have lost their life pulling out thinking they could make it or didn’t see the other driver. That comment is truly insensitive.

[cgalloway6]

Originally Posted by Grill Meister

TRAFFIC CONTROLS IN THE TRI-COUNTIES
Let’s begin with my admitting that I am an impatient son-of-a-gun and if things don’t go my way I have a hissy fit.

I have some terrible issues with the traffic controls in Tri-Counties. I have lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, California and Florida (Miami, Sarasota, St. Pete, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and now The Villages) and I have never experienced the traffic controls like the ones we face daily….if we’re out on the highways.
In most other locations, the traffic engineers time the traffic signals to have an orderly flow of traffic. The primary issue is, of course, is SAFETY. The flow of traffic traveling at the posted speed limit should be able to continue through the traffic signals without having to stop. But not here. If you drive on US 441/27 you are lucky if you can get through two traffic signals without stopping and I mean lucky. Most of the time, you will have to stop at every stinking light. We drove through Leesburg this morning and every….EVERY light caught us.

And, I have never experienced the left turn arrow as we have here. In most locations, other than the tri-counties, you may have a left turn arrow, which gives you total right of way against opposing traffic. When that turn arrow goes to caution (yellow) you know that your right of way against opposing traffic is about to cease and you need to prepare to stop. But, then after the caution light goes off, you have a green light….in most other locations; but you also have opposing traffic, so you have better wait until you have a break in traffic before your turn left. Here, in the tri-counties, the turn arrow goes to red and you sit and sit and sit, even though there may not be any traffic coming at you. And that’s compounded by some wonderful driver who will not pull out into the intersection so that they can turn left when the traffic has a gap or when the light turns red. AAAARRRRGGGG!!!

Another wonderful bit of timing frequently occurs and the intersection of Buenos Aries and Hwy 466. Those lights are so timed that there may be no traffic at all allowed through in any direction. Cars on 466 in both directions just sit. Traffic on Buenos Aires just sit. Ain’t nobody goin’ no where.

Now can somebody explain to this growly impatient pain in the #$$@ what is going on?

I realize that I can rationalize my feelings with the justification that all that idle time you are just sitting in your automobile is a terrible waste of gasoline, polluting the environment, but I admitted that I am impatient and I am, but my greatest area of impatience is stupidity. You can’t cure stupidity and the traffic controls around here are just stupid.

And….I might add….I love our seasonal neighbors, aka, Snow Birds. They are great people and make great friends and neighbors. It’s those other idiots that come down here and don’t know how to drive around The Villages that get on our nerves. The are arrogant, abusive, antagonistic, rude and just down right nasty and they give a bad name to our wonderful seasonal neighbors whom we love so dearly.

Incidentally, I do not moan and groan about “the developer” making money and increasing prices. They must make a profit. It’s their investment of time, money and resources and they damned sure should make a profit. Do you want to live in a community that was created and controlled by a bunch of idiots? If they didn’t make profits, they would go bankrupt and leave us high and dry to fend for ourselves. But the traffic around here stinks.

The traffic lights at the intersection of 466A and 441/27 is a puzzle. There are left turn lanes and lights on both the north and south bound lanes. The left turn lane on the northbound lane turns onto 466A. The left turn lane on southbound lane 441/27 turns into a guard rail. There is no road! And the northbound 441/27 traffic has to stop every cycle for southbound traffic to make left turns into the non existent road. There is no need for a car to trip it as it automatically operates. I have only seen one car use it for a u-turn, otherwise it is empty while the southbound traffic continues and all the northbound traffic has to stop and wait for nothing.
When the left turn light on northbound 441/27 is active, it would be nice if there was a right turn arrow on 466A but you have to hope the driver ahead of you is aware the right turn is protected by the left turning traffic on NB 441/27 with a left turn light. Sometimes they are, sometimes they are napping.
For the folks telling us to calm down and just go with the flow - every time you sit at a light you are wasting gas and creating pollution. I'm not an environmentalist but I am cheap. Timing the lights on 441/27 through Leesburg wouldn't be that difficult. Side streets could just wait for the next cycle instead of allowing them to switch whenever.

[stanley]

I see there are a lot of retired traffic and highway engineers here

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by DaleDivine

Yep, this bugs me too...
And the gazillion STOP signs in TV that should be YIELD signs because hardly anybody stops for them anyway.

Funny thing about those stops signs especially at 4 way stops, you to stop before you’re in-line and that means behind the stop sign or white line across the street.

[HJBeck]

Try Marijuana, you'll feel a lot better.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Girlcopper

Just for the record. Its illegal to pull into the intersection while you wait for a break in traffic to make your turn. I know. Iknow. Everyone does it and so do I BUT those people are just obeying traffic laws

I am not a Florida LEO, but I have talked to several around TV and it is not illegal in Florida. I have seen East coasters post it was illegal in their states. In my jurisdiction it was legal and taught in driver's ed.

[Dave&JeanneBankard]

Wow, there’s a lot of issues in your post. I too wonder why the lights work the way they do, but since I live in Fenney, I have multiple ways to get up to 441/27. Even with the whacky light situation, Morse is the quickest way. Take your time and remember that the seemingly nut-job driver in front of you is really the great equalizer that will most likely save you from something terrible down the road.

[Chrissy55]

You are right on so many levels but I will add to your list that people in Florida do not use turn signals.when driving their cars or golf carts. It’s very frustrating and dangerous.

[NewRealms]

I would suggest you look in the mirror for the problem.

[Villages Kahuna]

Calm down… and stay off the highways. Traffic circles seem to work better.

[b1ll649]

It doesn't sound like it based on your fear. I drove in NJ for 45 years with roundabout (we called them circles) on most major highways. These circles down here are nothing to fear, believe me.