Do most communities have traffic lights for exiting onto the main roads or do you have to take your life in your hands to do a left? We'll be staying in Westridge in March and I'm worried already about turning left onto US27 (to head towards Walmart). Thanks.
There are relatively few traffic light junctions on the 27 (certainly not one for every community) but I don't think Westridge is one of them.
The 27 is a dual carriageway (divided highway) and there's a space in the middle to wait before completing your turn, having got half way across, at each crossing point. Just remember to look RIGHT before turning left from that point.
If you're really worried about this (or perhaps for the first few days until you get more used to things) you could always drive down the same side of the road as the Westridge community (ie turn right) and do a U turn at the next set of traffic lights. There are some traffic lights not far past Calabay Parc on the right out of Westridge main entrance.
blott
there isnt lights at every housing junction, i think where the lights are they also help to create gaps in traffic on the main road
if you dont feel confident in left turn when you first arrive there is always the option of right then a u turn over the gap in the "median"/ central reservation do you not think
tezz 7628
Be especially careful at night for the first few days until you get used to things. Our eyes are unfortunately very bad at judging distance when all that can be seen are point source lights - headlights. The traffic on 27 does travel quite quick on that stretch and the automatic gearboxes on US cars don't make for a quick getaway. Give yourself plenty of time, and if there is a lot of traffic just wait a while. There is a set of lights about 2 miles back up 27 (at the new Publix) that will create big gaps for you so it just needs a bit of patience.
Steve
The trick in driving out of the main entrance of the villa communities onto US27 is to remember which side the traffic is coming from. At first it is from the left ie the driver's left hand side - so look through the window nearest to you (the left one). If you're turning right, you obviously turn carefully into the direction of the traffic flow. But to turn left, drive out to the central reservation when safe and position the car so that you can check the traffic coming from the front passenger's side, making sure that their head is not in the way of your eyeline. Either way, allow plenty of time and distance to merge.
Nostromo
theres no traffic lights at westridge and yes you do have to take your life in your own hands, but no more then you do here really! you must always look left! then right when you cross over. we have done it many times on the 27, we stayed at florida pines the next turning along from westridge and practically lived in walmart! happy traffic light hunting!!!
Liesa
Its really not that bad, no different than the traffic over here. In fact it is alot easier to drive there, even turning onto the 27, than driving in any major British City. Just never forget to check both ways when pulling out.
We stopped at Westridge last year and never found it a problem pulling out. As already pointed out just take your time.
If you are still not comfortable could you not turn right and then do a U turn at the next junction. I am not sure how far the next one is mind.
A friend of mine stayed at Highlands Reserve and he turned straight left rather than cross over first and he had a lucky escape so do be careful
I don't think I'd describe it as a 'life in your own hands' manoeuvre, it really isn't all that bad. I find it far more difficult making a right turn at the top of my road in the UK than I do pulling out onto 27. You've just got to treat 27 as 2, completely seperate manoeuvres. Stop. Look left until there is a gap in the oncoming traffic. Pull across to the central reservation (median in Florida speak). Stop again. Look right. When there is a gap pull out and go.
There are traffic lights not too far in both directions (at publix at Highlands to the north and near Calabay to the south) and both of these create huge big gaps in the traffic. A bit of patience makes the job very easy.
Steve
on a related subject could i ask you all where you would position your car to do the various manouvores(?) through the gap in the junction
ie u turn,left turn, right turn, and through the junction as i think i've tried all of them in the past
tezz 7628
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks