OCALA, Fla. — Drivers leaving the Palm Cay community on Southwest 106th Place in Marion County must make a right turn on to busy northbound State Road 200, but many southbound drivers also make a U-turn at the intersection.

Kim Ventura said it’s challenging leaving the Palm Cay 55-plus community in Ocala and having to turn on to State Road 200.

“The reason we moved here is because it’s a senior community,” Ventura said. “Just life is slower. But you get on Route 200, and it’s like you’re jumping on a drag race.”

Not only does she have to contend with northbound drivers but also southbound State Road 200 drivers making a U-turn at the intersection.

“(Drivers) come through here, and they’ll whip out to make a U-turn,” Ventura said.

In one instance, she said she came very close to hitting a driver who was making a U-turn.

“Lady yelled at me and said she had the right of way. And I was like ‘OK, sorry',” Ventura said.

Since Ventura is at a stop sign, she has to wait for the other driver at the intersection to make the U-turn first.

“If they could just make it a left turn only, it would make it a lot safer for the people in our community,” Ventura said.

Asked whether the Florida Department of Transportation could install a no U-turn sign at the intersection, forcing drivers to travel farther south before making the turn, District 5 Public Information Director Cindi Lane said FDOT will conduct a comprehensive traffic study to determine if a no U-turn sign is needed.

“Redirecting U-turns would require careful consideration due to potential impacts on drivers, including significant detours and potential disruptions to local businesses and traffic flow,” Lane said.

Ventura said she hopes FDOT makes some kind of safety changes.

“It’s not safe,” Ventura said. “I don’t want to live my life that way. Every time I go out of the community, ‘who am I going to run into?’ ”

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