To the Editor:
I live in Marion Landing, an over-55 community that is located between SR 200 and 60th Avenue, and I have observed the same type of incidents that John Searls has expounded about previously in his letter. The most egregious violations, in my opinion, are the left turns on a red turn arrow.
My wife and I have been totally amazed at how many people take the red turn arrow as a mere suggestion rather than an actual traffic control device. The truly horrifying part is that this does not just occur with privately owned cars and pickup trucks. We have seen landscapers with their utility trailers filled with lawn equipment, pickups and semis towing horse trailers, and even commercial tractor-trailer rigs turn left from SR 200 onto 60th Avenue with the left turn arrow indicating red.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that the red turn arrow indicates that drivers are to stop and wait until the arrow indication turns green prior to proceeding. This is what I learned eons ago when I was in Driver’s Education class. I am sure that Florida has not changed this particular law. I have brought this to the attention of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy that comes to our neighborhood meetings occasionally by asking this question in a humorous way:“When was the new traffic law passed that permits a left turn on a red arrow?” The deputy was sort of stunned when I asked that question.
This happens at the SR 200/60th Avenue intersection, the SR 200/95th Street intersection, the SR 200/SW 80th Avenue intersection, and the SR 200/SW 100th Street intersection (these are the intersections where I have observed this happening).
I understand that people get in a hurry, but where do they get the idea that they are so important that they can execute a left turn on a red arrow traffic signal?
Chuck Vroman
Ocala resident
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