A new tool is being distributed in The Villages in an effort to increase safety where cars and golf carts cruise side-by-side.

The Villages Community Development Council distributed Brite @ Nite flashers on Thursday afternoon. They are lights that will be placed on lanyards and are designed to increase visibility in an area where pedestrians, cars and golf carts cruise right next to each other.

But some residents, like Marilyn Poynter, call the flashers a Band-Aid solution. She knows the dangers of trying to pull out onto Morse Boulevard in a car because she had two years to think about it while she was bed-bound in a hospital.

"A garden truck and trailer were coming from the gate and just barreled it," Poynter said.

Poynter said she still considers herself lucky. Her neighbor, Buck Hughes, was killed earlier this year turning his golf cart into the Villa De La Vista neighborhood.

Sherrie Hyer lives in the neighborhood, too. She started a petition drive urging leaders to take action.

The petition already has more than 1,000 signatures.

Cars are supposed to drive 30 mph on the road alongside of golf carts, but Hyer said that rarely happens.

"I think it needs to be moved over from where the cars are — see how close they are, and I’m clear over on the edge," Hyer said while riding in her golf cart. "Then you got to move over with traffic and make sure they see you. I always put my hand out to make sure they see me."

Paulette Graeven, the president of the Community Improvement Council, said a lot of the onus falls on golf cart drivers.

"Especially after dark, you can't just drive and not pay attention to your surroundings," Hyer said.

Poynter said everyone has to be alert. "We do have to be responsible, we are," she said. "But we can't stop the problem, and it has to be done before we have more people killed."

Hyer said she has noticed more Sumter County deputies writing tickets to speeding drivers since she delivered her petition to the county.

At this point, however, there are no plans to move golf cart paths away from the road.

For more information on the Brite @ Nite flashers, contact Paulette Graeven at pgs624@gmail.com.