There was a recent article in the local news about the latest accident to occur at Cameo and 99th Ave. A SCHOA board member stated that speed enforcement was needed to slow down the traffic to avoid these accidents. I don’t think speed enforcement is what is needed. What is needed are checkpoints for those that are driving without a valid license, driving under the influence of prescription drugs, and finally using cell phones, either while driving or the worst, texting while driving. I truly believe the facts of the last accident will not be speed but not paying attention to the road. The golf cart driver that was killed at the same intersection, not paying attention to the road, and most likely, didn't stop completely, another significant hazard in Sun City. Sun City does not have any means of public transportation, so folks that shouldn’t be driving are, and there are other seniors with the belief there is nothing wrong with driving with a phone to their head. Ever been behind one of those folks, as they slow down, speed up, and wander into your lane several times? That is when I kick it into passing gear to get away from such dangerous antics. No one else has seen the drivers using the street gutter as their way of making it down the road? One of my favorites are the little old men and women who can no longer turn their heads to look around their immediate driving area. If you are lucky, these folks will merely turn on the indicator and come into your lane, despite the fact you are already using it. Or the infamous right turn from the left lane, no signal, just turn, barely missing the front end of your car. Are there some people out there driving faster than they should, yes. But I think we need MCSO set ups to remove the unlicensed, over medicated, drunk drivers using their cell phones off the road first. Impound vehicles so these same folks don’t just snicker and get back in the car and take off again. I know when I was on Boswell yesterday, three golf carts merely glanced at the intersection and came straight through. Good thing my brakes work well. When I honk my horn at their poor driving habits, I end up with the one finger salute. So, it is not speed that is killing Sun City drivers, it is all this other abhorrent behavior seniors are participating in and can’t handle. There is a woman that brags of having Macular Degeneration and she still drives. I know of another man that has glasses as thick as bottoms of the old coke bottles. He has been told not to drive, he says he can still make out shapes so he will continue to drive. He has no license because he couldn’t pass the vision test. Don’t waste resources on speed traps, get out there and check licenses, insurance, cognizant abilities, and sobriety checks. Put cops on some of the busier interior streets and look for the number of golf carts that don’t stop. Look for the older golf carts that aren’t street legal with tail and head lights. Speed is the least of the worries in Sun City, trust me.
Amber – I have a question....who are you? I would agree with you on most of what you said in your post. There are many drivers of golf carts and autos in Sun City who probably should not be driving and yes, we have a lack of local public transportation. I was in law enforcement for 30 years and with the exception of golf carts most cities have all the problems that you describe. These problems are not unique to Sun City. I would disagree with you however if you are stating speed is not a problem. Speeding is a contributing factor in many cases. It's not the only one but it contributes greatly to the severity of the accident. Sun City will probably never be an incorporated city which means we will never have our own traffic division. Sun City will have to work with what the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office provides.
Jim, I would never say speed is not a factor. Speed is a huge contributor to many accidents, I just don't think most of the accidents in Sun City are caused by speed alone. I drive a lot in Sun City, as I care for my Aunt and I take her to numerous doctors appointments in the area. This has me on the road about four of the seven days of the week. What I see on the roads of Sun City is beyond troublesome. I realize MCSO is strapped for help, but the roads in the area are dangerous for more reasons than speed, trust me. While most cities have traffic problems, Sun City is a microcosm of senior driving issues causing death, accidents, and damage. Jim, as for who I am....well, I sure do miss the bowling committee.
Yesterday I saw a car drive right through a stop sign at Prarie Hills and Boswell. And, I've seen it happen before. Consequently, I am very cautious at stop signs in SC.
Pegmih, I hear you. Going down Boswell, towards 103rd, not once, but twice, a golf car merely blew the stop sign, and kept on going. I don't know if this is due to irreverent behavior or a 19th hole stop off, but it is scary to drive in Sun City. I drive all around Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, and Goodyear, and I never see the amount of near misses that I see here in Sun City.
While visiting Sun City earlier this month we were driving north on 99th and as we came up to Cameo a golf car blew through the Cameo stop sign and turned south on 99th, he was going so fast he was leaning into the turn to stay upright. We were close enough that it could have been bad had I not been watching for crazy cart drivers, which we had already seen a few. I ride a motorcycle so I am extra aware of cars, or in this case, carts darting out in front of me. The three of us laughed at first, but then we had a long conversation about the probable cart driver mortality rates in Sun City. Little did we know this was a real issue. All I can say is that cart drivers need to be extra cautious and not drive like they own the road. I have to do the same thing on my bike, because in the case of an accident the car is almost always the victor. We also followed a cart for about a mile up 99th one day, the lady driving insisted on driving in the middle of the road at 25MPH. We weren't in any hurry, but wow it was frustrating, shouldn't the carts drive on the side. Just saying.
I don't think golf cars can be in the road on 99th ave, as I thought, probably incorrectly, they were limited to streets at 35 mph or less. I truly don't know the golf car rules, but I bet Jim Powell does. Jim is an esteemed member of SCHOA and I think may be on the transportation committee, which is why the speed issue is such a passionate item to him. All I am saying is that while the speed machines are great as a deterrent, we really need MCSO out here doing checks on licenses, registrations, and perhaps impounding vehicles for repeat offenders. BTW BruceW we lived in Colorado Springs and Littleton, prior to moving to Phoenix/Sun City. Love Colorado for its beauty, but you can keep the snow, the ice, and scraping it off everything.
Interesting conversation gang and as pointed out...bad drivers are everywhere. I think as a community we should and could develop an ongoing promotion of safety behind the wheel; and I do mean any wheel. Over the years SCHOA had pamphlets regarding golf car safety. While that alone wasn't going to change bad drivers from doing stupid things, it was a start. I like the Posse getting a second speed/radar trailer, but what we need more is enforcement. Tickets for speeding are the biggest impediment to fast drivers. Of course one only has to look at the state of AZ to see how strongly the legislators feel about that...take down the speed camera's on the freeways because well I guess some of their friends don't like the idea of driving within the laws. But I digress. This can't just be a SCHOA thing, it can't just be a Posse thing, it has to be a topic that takes the forefront of organizations within the community. It has to have defined goals aimed at constant messaging and some potential impact on those who break the rules and endanger us all.
This is not accurate information. The speed limit applies to NEVs(Neighborhood Electric Vehicles). The lines are very blurred when it comes to laws regarding gas powered golf carts, electric golf carts and any carts modified to go over 24 MPH. Federal, State and County are at odds when it comes to what can be enforced. It would be great if this would all be clarified. Traveling at a speed that impedes traffic can get you a ticket so that's why slow vehicles are encouraged to stay to the right. Caution and common sense have to be exercised at all times.
My wife corrected me, she said our golf car encounters were both on Del Web and she said it was Talisman not Cameo. I trust her memory way more than mine.
Low speed vehicle road speed law: http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00966.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS Side of road travel law: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00721.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS Turning right yield law: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00777.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS
Yesterday, March 25, another senior gentleman went right through the stop sign at Boswell & Prairie Hills.
Rather she be right or she be wrong...a wise man always acknowledge her wisdom and agrees wholeheartedly with her.
The "Low speed vehicle law" refers to electric golf carts, nothing noted about gas carts. Perhaps we need to get Debbie Lesko to sponsor another Sun City Law about Golf Cart speed in general.
