Disabled buggys
Author
Discussion

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,581 posts

206 months

Thursday 3rd August 2023
quotequote all
I caught something on tv today about more Disabled Buggys being in accidents than ever before..

This prompted a recall of being taken out from behind by a old chap tearing up the pedestrianised high street like Nigel Mansell...

Once I'd struggled up he commenced shouting at me for being in the way of his speed machine. The nearby PCSO was more interested in whether he was ok, rather than any broken bones that I might have had. In all seriousness I've been inspecting property non-stop for 15 years, often in remote areas or high on rooftops - and this was the closest I have got to being hospitalised.

So I'm curious. Do they have insurance requirements? Are there any laws that they fall within, or do we all need to be watching our backs for these machines?


normalbloke

8,446 posts

241 months

Thursday 3rd August 2023
quotequote all
Wait until you meet one on a dual carriageway….

Who me ?

7,455 posts

234 months

Thursday 3rd August 2023
quotequote all
Surveyor- ( as in motoring there's a few types). ( i use one as my legs are fit for driving, but not for walking). My other driving capabilities ( eyesight/reactions spacial awareness /hazard awareness are at least equal to todays average motorist).
But first for the ignorant let me explane the two types of mobility scooter , dreamt up up by some mentally challenged person in Whitehall.
One type is allowed on roads, but limited ( by some brain dead person) to 8 MPH. This type has some form of brake with handles acting on wheels
The other type is restricted to footpaths and limited to 4MPH. It has no form of operator brake, and relies ( to the best of my knowledge) on an electrical system on the drive system). TBH, PUTTING SCOOTER IN REVERSE IS POSSIBLY A FASTER WAY OF STOPPING.).

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,581 posts

206 months

Friday 4th August 2023
quotequote all
[quote=Who me ?]Surveyor- ( as in motoring there's a few types). ( i use one as my legs are fit for driving, but not for walking). My other driving capabilities ( eyesight/reactions spacial awareness /hazard awareness are at least equal to todays average motorist).
But first for the ignorant let me explane the two types of mobility scooter , dreamt up up by some mentally challenged person in Whitehall.
One type is allowed on roads, but limited ( by some brain dead person) to 8 MPH. This type has some form of brake with handles acting on wheels
The other type is restricted to footpaths and limited to 4MPH. It has no form of operator brake, and relies ( to the best of my knowledge) on an electrical system on the drive system). TBH, PUTTING SCOOTER IN REVERSE IS POSSIBLY A FASTER WAY OF STOPPING.).

[/quote]

Not what type my assaulter was driving. But it turns out a well built surveyor spread over the ‘front ‘ was also an effective brake…

Seesure

1,212 posts

261 months

Friday 4th August 2023
quotequote all
A chap near to me uses one as he doesn't have a driving licence..

He's not disabled but sees it as a way to get around... coming down the road he must be doing at least 20-25mph.

He often uses it on the pavements, I dread to think what will happen if he smacks in to someone as they step from their garden gate on to the pavement, somebody will get seriously hurt.




MustangGT

13,654 posts

302 months

Friday 4th August 2023
quotequote all
Seesure said:
A chap near to me uses one as he doesn't have a driving licence..

He's not disabled but sees it as a way to get around... coming down the road he must be doing at least 20-25mph.

He often uses it on the pavements, I dread to think what will happen if he smacks in to someone as they step from their garden gate on to the pavement, somebody will get seriously hurt.
at that speed it is not an official mobility scooter.

My mother has one of each, the 'bigger' one she uses at home for the village, shopping etc. She is 93 and still lives alone. She gave up driving a car about 8 years ago. Her 'smaller' one comes apart and fits in the boot of my car, we use that when we take her out, or she comes to visit. Her road-going one is road-registered and both are fully insured.

Chainsaw Rebuild

2,111 posts

124 months

Friday 4th August 2023
quotequote all
There are three classes of invalid carriage. Class 1 is a manual wheel chair, class 2 may travel up to 4mph on the pavement and class 3 may do 4mph on the pavement and 8mph elsewhere.

Short Grain

3,419 posts

242 months

Friday 4th August 2023
quotequote all
There's a couple round here, husband and wife, who travel around together, him leading! They are an absolute menace, they seem a lot faster than 8mph and have zero awareness when they're on the roads! They expect everyone, drivers and pedestrians, to give way. They're a menace!

livinginasia

944 posts

132 months

Saturday 5th August 2023
quotequote all
My mother has one of the “not for road use” smaller type ones. She absolutely DOES have insurance in case she hits anything, I have made sure of that. It’s not a legal requirement though.

She has hit a few things in Sainsbury’s and the odd wall, but luckily not a person (yet) !

Who me ?

7,455 posts

234 months

Saturday 5th August 2023
quotequote all
livinginasia said:
My mother has one of the “not for road use” smaller type ones. She absolutely DOES have insurance in case she hits anything, I have made sure of that. It’s not a legal requirement though.

She has hit a few things in Sainsbury’s and the odd wall, but luckily not a person (yet) !
As I mentioned, on the 4 MPH ones, the brake is an electrical device fitted to the rear axle and operates ( AFAIK) when the power switch is off. But its not like brakes on any other sort of vehicle and I've found from experience that its best aided by engaging reverse. Next best thing I know to handling a boat.
Any one complaining about old folk in one of these should try going round a store in one. First thing to remember ( and NEVER forget) is that to the average shopper and store person is that you are invisible. Second thing is that the warning device/ reverse warning is not taken seriously. Use a horn ( as would be fitted to a kids bike) and you are being aggressive. FFS, what do I need to do, perhaps hit them on head with mallet?

A993LAD

2,020 posts

243 months

Saturday 5th August 2023
quotequote all
Buggy gangs......


Sticks.

9,588 posts

273 months

Sunday 6th August 2023
quotequote all
A993LAD said:
Buggy gangs......

I shall probably end up in one of these, if I make it. An engineer friend of mine is sure he could do something to 're-map' it. Point noted about the brakes though.

Than some white paint, a stopwatch and...



I remember my first trip to a supermarket in a wheelchair (manual). No one wants to make room/notice you but I soon found no one wants to fall over you either so a fairly robust approach works. Stacking displays on the corner of aisles is a PITA too. Pickled cabbage. Messy.

rayny

2,018 posts

223 months

Sunday 6th August 2023
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
I shall probably end up in one of these, if I make it. An engineer friend of mine is sure he could do something to 're-map' it. Point noted about the brakes though.

Than some white paint, a stopwatch and...



I remember my first trip to a supermarket in a wheelchair (manual). No one wants to make room/notice you but I soon found no one wants to fall over you either so a fairly robust approach works. Stacking displays on the corner of aisles is a PITA too. Pickled cabbage. Messy.
A rather appropriate location - Bexhill on Sea was the birth of British motor racing.

Sticks.

9,588 posts

273 months

Sunday 6th August 2023
quotequote all
rayny said:
Sticks. said:
I shall probably end up in one of these, if I make it. An engineer friend of mine is sure he could do something to 're-map' it. Point noted about the brakes though.

Than some white paint, a stopwatch and...



I remember my first trip to a supermarket in a wheelchair (manual). No one wants to make room/notice you but I soon found no one wants to fall over you either so a fairly robust approach works. Stacking displays on the corner of aisles is a PITA too. Pickled cabbage. Messy.
A rather appropriate location - Bexhill on Sea was the birth of British motor racing.
I know, I go whenever I can. In 92 I was asked to blat the TVR along the front (with another) as part of the (first?) Bexhill 100 show. Now, scooters. Oh well.

That's quite long clear run though scratchchin




rayny

2,018 posts

223 months

Sunday 6th August 2023
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
I know, I go whenever I can. In 92 I was asked to blat the TVR along the front (with another) as part of the (first?) Bexhill 100 show. Now, scooters. Oh well.

That's quite long clear run though scratchchin
The first 'Bexhill 100' was in 1990 - Either you did your run in the second year event, or your memory is as bad as mine wink




Sticks.

9,588 posts

273 months

Monday 7th August 2023
quotequote all
rayny said:
The first 'Bexhill 100' was in 1990 - Either you did your run in the second year event, or your memory is as bad as mine wink
Ah, OK. 92 I went, so not the first year.

donkmeister

11,541 posts

122 months

Monday 7th August 2023
quotequote all
I think everyone knows of one or two that are a menace, but the majority never get noticed as they aren't being twunts. Perhaps they could do with proximity sensors to avoid running into people? I heard on the radio of a poor kid who got his foot mashed by Jabba The Hut, who ranted and drove off and left him with a permanent limp and a future of arthritis in that foot.

Round here, there used to be the real-life incarnation of Viz's "Morbidly Obese Mobility scooter woman", and her similarly corpulent friend. A few times I saw them riding their hogs (very heavily built scooters with pneumatic tyres) along pavements in a busy shopping area at a running pace shouting at people to get out of their way.

But, I see far more of them ambling along at the same pace as other pavement users. I've seen one old boy amble along at walking pace then flip what I presume was the Turbo Mode switch as he joined the carriageway too, so at least one person is using it correctly.