Speeding in the Villages

By TomL

I have been swamped by information coming out of the Villages and several other sources about the controversy pertaining to people speeding in the Villages. There are residents complaining about speeders and traffic on certain roads. The speeders are reported to be residents, visitors and contractors.

One persons Opinion

I was stopped a year ago April on Morse past Rio Grande on the way to #441. The cop told me the speed along there is 30mph because there are golf cart lanes alongside the car lanes. The speed limit is 35 on the roads with a separate golf cart paths and 25 thru the neighborhoods. I lose patience too but it would be a lot worse if I hit a golf cart. We “old people” break easily. I sure don’t need that on my conscience because I was trying to go a little faster.

I see people driving cars in the golf cart lanes. What are they thinking?

Also, pet peeve: Street Legal should stay in the golf cart lanes. They are still just flimsy golf carts and cannot go over 25 even on Morse or Buena Vista.

I would add that the speed limit on Rio Grande Avenue is posted at 25 MPH in the Town of Lady Lake traffic jurisdiction of The Villages.  It is Posted at 20 MPH in the Sumter County traffic jurisdiction.

Second persons Opinion

The posted speed limit is the law, 20, 25, 30, 35, whatever. The speed limit in the Town of Lady Lake traffic jurisdiction of The Villages is 25 MPH for the most part.  The “STRICLY ENFORCED” yellow board speed limit on Chula Vista Avenue is 25 MPH, no 5 MPH fudge factor.  Golf carts will wiggle and wobble  and become unstable if they stray into the concrete gutters at the side of the road.  This is a very is very easy to do especially for older drivers.  So, SLOW DOWN as recommended by LLPD Chief McKinstry in his April 2018 news letter.

Third persons opinion

    I must admit that in Spanish Springs – Rio Grande is impossible to stay between the lines in the golf cart lane – otherwise you get pulled into the curb. However everyone knows that the lanes are rediculously skinny and the carts have to      stick out. That being said – 20 – 25 on a main drag is still grrrrrr. People here REALLY do need to learn how to drive and park!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR.

Fourth person opinion

I was stopped a year ago April on Morse past Rio Grande on the way to #441.

The cop told me the speed along there is 30mph because there are golf cart lanes alongside the car lanes. The speed limit is 35 on the roads with a separate golf cart paths and 25 thru the neighborhoods. I lose patience too but it would be a lot worse if I hit a golf cart. We “old people” break easily. I sure don’t need that on my conscience because I was trying to go a little faster.

I see people driving cars in the golf cart lanes. What are they thinking?

Also, pet peeve: Street Legal should stay in the golf cart lanes. They are still just flimsy golf carts and cannot go over 25 even on Morse or Buena Vista.

I would add that the speed limit on Rio Grande Avenue is posted at 25 MPH in the Town of Lady Lake traffic jurisdiction of The Villages.  It is Posted at 20 MPH in the Sumter County traffic jurisdiction.

Fifth persons opinion

OH MY GOSH — you guys are killin me. I am Native Floridian. I’ve been driving in this mess all my life —and yes I have driven also all over the US as well. I have NEVER had a speeding ticket or driving infraction. At my age I consider that a pretty good record. What they do in Maryland is of no consequence here. I really don’t care to have “the law” that you know down my throat. I feel you have missed the point and relevance to my comments over and over again. If you are going to comment to me, please make it applicable to the points I am making. I ALSO know the law!! I’m not an idiot. If you have common sense then please apply it to the conversation at hand. MY points are valid and have nothing to do with “the law”. : O…I think I just need to shut up and be done with this conversation. It just frustrates me and gets me upset. You are missing my point entirely…and I DO have the right to think that the speed limits here are ridiculous – and I DO have the right to voice that opinion…and from all the people agreeing with my opinion in PM I don’t stand alone in my view. Telling me that’s the law and just take your foot off the accelerator and such comments are just insulting. When you have to idle down the street and brake some of the way to keep from going to fast that’s just too dang slow…call me crazy. I’m NOT trying to drive like a bat out of hell going 90 miles an hour here people….Just a reasonable speed limit for the MAIN roads!!! If you saw what I drive – you would think I’m a speedster – But I’m NOT…I just like to get where I’m going – safely and reasonably! Sorry that’s too much to ask for some of you. …Geez — sorry for coming off strong…but I get sick and tired of people getting on this forum and saying things that don’t go with the conversation or aren’t applicable or reasonable to the point made or are condescending, etc. AUGHHH So NOT worth having a conversation over!!! You certainly have the right not to agree with me – absolutely — but keep to the conversation without spewing the “rules” or should or should nots kind of thing. We are not children and we should all use common sense and obey the law. If we don’t that is our own consequence – whether we LIKE the rules or not. Doesn’t even fit into the conversation here. And as a Native Floridian – I deal all day every day all my life with the wacko drivers here going 2 miles an hour in the left lane blocking you in – driving in their own world. Clarice, I wonder how many of them are NATIVES??

Sixth persons opinion

Ok I read all the comments..i find that many times when there are no others on the street (45) mph CREEPS up in no time as it seems to FEEL natural..on the other hand, dangerous and even scary if suddenly a cart pulls out or someone suddenly appears with their pet. Being a Native of Florida and have worked for the DHSMV, administered many driving tests, YES I can tell YOU I go crazy as well by all these persons driving like a turtle in the left lane sometimes for EVER because they know SOMEWHERE up the road they Need to turn LEFT!! Most of our local traffic IS made up from Out Of State residents who may have permanently relocated here. ALL of our vehicles (it was 3) have been hit by someone backing out of a spot, sideswiped because talking not paying attention as they veared into the next lane or just plain DON’T KNOW HOW THEY EVER GOT A LICENCE.. GOOD GRIEF! That being said, YEs most roads have a safe standard speed usually set by engineers or someone who knows better than me (although are subject to change with survey, accident numbers, etc) and secondly, YES it Is Crawling sometimes, no, I’m not a Crazy, retired but busy most the time. And Yes, it is a “privilege” to get and hold a Fl license-not so pleasant to have your privilege taken from you as i had to do to some people when it was necessary.. just being more AWARE Is more important as our minds take over about today’s chores, what to make for dinner..and suddenly the Car Knows the Way..so I am also guilty of THAT. I DO like seeing radar measuring devices that show your speed as you are approaching, as i know it ALWAYS gets my attention and has me checking my speed. The tips for cruise control are good too. I guess we really got to try to be more careful and kind to each other. I remember telling some youths just getting their license about that 2000lb vehicle they were so anxious to drive as ALSO being a killing machine the MOMENT they take it for granite and take their mind off of WHAT their doing..

Publishers Note:

OK it is my opinion reckless driving should be reported to the law and then back off. The Law Enforcement in the area have to deal with traffic as a secondary problem. They are also busy dealing with killers and thugs, so if you are frustrated just put yourself in their shoes, while they are fighting with drug dealer.  Complaints sometimes come because a person does not have enough to do in their life but complain. But to the people that are speeding be careful because in between dealing with bad guys the officers are trying to slow down speeders to save a life, which means it’s TICKET TIME!

Please slow down.