Vehicle vs. Gate Safety 

Over the past year, staff and Security Committee members have watched the number of gate incidents continue to increase. As of September 30, 2020, we have documented 81 cases of vehicles (including golf carts and bicycles) making contact with our gates. In my opinion, the root cause of this problem is speed and inattention by drivers. The entrances have green/red lights mounted on poles adjacent to the gate on the driver’s side. To increase safety at our gates, we are in the process of installing the lights on the barrier arms as we replace the gate equipment. Still, the incidents continue. 

Several Security Committee members noted they have never had an issue at the gates during their long tenure at The Landings. One member offered his method of approaching the gates. Although this method is only his opinion, it is backed by years of never colliding with any of our gates. As my Grandmother always said, the proof is in the pudding! 

• Approach the gate at a slow rate of speed. He recommends approaching the gate at 10 MPH or slower. 

• Stay back from the vehicle in front of you so the RFID antenna can get a clear view of your RFID tag. At least one or two car lengths is advisable. 

Based on my own experience, I certainly would agree with his method. I would be remiss if I did not mention the signs adjacent to the gates, which state no tailgating and gates close after every vehicle. Yes, it is fair to say that complete closure of the gate does not occur every time. However, if you expect the barrier arm to close after every vehicle and proceed accordingly with caution, you will not be one of our statistics. 

Several articles have included a plea for drivers to slow down when entering the community. On average, there are more than 8,000 entries through our gates each DAY. Yes, you read that correctly! More than 8,000 entries each day equates to approximately three million entries per year. Vehicle versus gate incidents account for about .0033% of all entries. 

In the unfortunate event you collide with our gates (or vice versa), please stop and report the incident (912-598-1982, option 2) so an officer can respond. You also may want to (and should) know that leaving the scene of a vehicle crash with property damage or an injury is a crime. 

TLA staff review the video of all vehicle versus gate incidents. If the evidence (video, green/red lights, and RFID data) indicates the driver was at fault, we bill the driver or registered owner of the vehicle for the cost of repairs (parts and labor). If the evidence reveals an equipment malfunction, or the driver disagrees with the evidence, video can be reviewed in my office. In that case, the evidence is turned over to our insurance carrier to review and process the claim. 

My pleas remain. Please, slow down, expect to stop, do not tailgate, pay attention to the lights and gate arms, and proceed with caution. Help me decrease our vehicle versus gate incidents to less than .0005 %.