Security Update

Community path safety and golf cart issues continue to be one of the most discussed topics around the island. Interestingly, looking through historical data and articles written by my predecessors, it appears the challenges with the community paths and driving habits, in general, are nothing new. There literally are dozens of articles on the topic as well as a golf cart safety video. TLA conducted a Community Path Forum in 2016 and another forum in 2019 to solicit residents’ feedback, and the most notable issues are as follows:

• Golf cart speeds
• Golf cart drivers failing to yield to pedestrians and cyclists
• Golf cart drivers overtaking pedestrians and cyclists without warning and too close
• “Underage” drivers, which is more appropriately unlicensed drivers
• Drop-offs on several community paths caused by soil erosion
• Distracted pedestrians and cyclists (e.g., using headphones) and unable to hear approaching golf cart drivers
• Pedestrians and cyclists two (or more) abreast
• Golf cart drivers on the golf course who are not golfing

Obviously, we cannot include all the concerns, but the above list encompasses some of the more prominent and often stated issues. The Community Path Safety Subcommittee has been tasked with exploring these challenges and considering viable options to address them. Recommendations for reasonable solutions will be provided to the Board of Directors. In the meantime, Security patrols will continue their efforts for compliance and are being utilized to specifically target these issues. Citations issued to date are up 41%, and I hope those stats rapidly dwindle. Public Works also is increasing maintenance of the community paths and addressing soil erosion and line of sight issues.

We appreciate all the reports of golf cart rules violations and the emails providing feedback on the community path issues. In a recent email we received, one resident stated, “I believe most incidents of safety can be avoided by all users of the paths using common sense and courtesy for each other.”  I could not agree more with that sentiment. I ask that each of you slow down and show respect to your fellow neighbors. Due care and right-of-way are not something you take but rather something you give.

Continuing the subject of respect and civility, we have responded to a few road rage incidents within our gates, and a few resulted in alleged physical altercations. Criminal charges of road rage and assault and battery should be taken seriously and have no place in our community. A simple Google search will provide several good articles for both the aggressive driver and the person desiring to defuse a potential altercation.

This article was one of my least favorites to write. I am hopeful that my time, as well as my troops’ time, will be better expended on more positive issues in the upcoming months.