12 replies to this topic

[pikey]

http://news.bbc.co.u...ex/10303689.stm

[greybeard]

There must have been something else going on here that was not reported.

8mph mobility scooters are legal to use on public roads (except motorways) in the UK, provided they are registered with the DVLA. I drive mine on roads every day, although admittedly not on main trunk routes.

The A12 it is not a motorway, so it must have been the manner of his driving, eg wandering all over the road, or driving in the dark without lights, rather than just using a scooter on the road, that caused the tailback and police intervention.

I'd hate to think the police action was setting a precedent here. Mind you, it was Essex and the traffic cops from Essex "Interceptors" as seen on TV, all appear to be as dim as Toc-H lamps!! (There's a nice google project for those unfamiliar with the expression {probably everyone under the age of 60 })

[edlee]

Interesting,,, I find myself in agreement with the powers of law inforcement. Not a thing done often.

In this particular case, the officers actually used their minds in both getting a slow moving vehicle off the roadway, safely,, and issued a Warning, instead of a citation. All things considered,, not a bad day.
ed

[greybeard]

edlee, on Jun 14 2010, 06:54 PM, said:

Interesting,,, I find myself in agreement with the powers of law inforcement. Not a thing done often.

In this particular case, the officers actually used their minds in both getting a slow moving vehicle off the roadway, safely,, and issued a Warning, instead of a citation. All things considered,, not a bad day.
ed

Anyone could just as legally have been riding a bicycle, or a tricycle, or riding a horse, or even driving a steam roller along that same road. All probably at the same speed, and all have equal right to be using the highway. Too many people wrongly believe that cars take precedence.

Seems to me to be an example of ageism. I would love to see the old boy challenge the police who appear to have exceeded their powers. In this case, unless careless or dangerous driving or some other traffic offence were involved (not merely using a mobility scooter, or travelling slowly), police action should correctly have been limited to offering advice only.

They didn't do this. They issued an antisocial behaviour order - equivalent to a conviction - for which the old guy now has a police record.

[rue2you]

This was actually Greybeard in this story. Remember the day he flipped his scooter? Well, this is what happened immediately after. It was a really bad day for him and we all felt sorry for him.

[greybeard]

Haha.

I keep forgetting I probably qualify for being described as "elderly".

Bit difficult to come to terms with when my brain thinks it's 30 years younger.

Edited by greybeard, 15 June 2010 - 05:48 AM.

[rue2you]

No, it's not your age, it's the color of your beard!! It's a great disguise for your eternal youth.

[mcferguson]

greybeard, on Jun 14 2010, 03:46 PM, said:

edlee, on Jun 14 2010, 06:54 PM, said:

Interesting,,, I find myself in agreement with the powers of law inforcement. Not a thing done often.

In this particular case, the officers actually used their minds in both getting a slow moving vehicle off the roadway, safely,, and issued a Warning, instead of a citation. All things considered,, not a bad day.
ed

Anyone could just as legally have been riding a bicycle, or a tricycle, or riding a horse, or even driving a steam roller along that same road. All probably at the same speed, and all have equal right to be using the highway. Too many people wrongly believe that cars take precedence.

Seems to me to be an example of ageism. I would love to see the old boy challenge the police who appear to have exceeded their powers. In this case, unless careless or dangerous driving or some other traffic offence were involved (not merely using a mobility scooter, or travelling slowly), police action should correctly have been limited to offering advice only.

They didn't do this. They issued an antisocial behaviour order - equivalent to a conviction - for which the old guy now has a police record.

Over here we have a minimum speed limit of 45mph on the interstate highways (which I believe are equivalent to your A highways). It doesn't matter what kind of vehicle a person is driving , they would be issued a ticket for impeding traffic. Apparently not the same over there?

[sherbs]

My sister lives in Brentwood, Essex, I have been down the infamous A12 many a time. I do wonder why somone on a Mobility Scooter would want to drive down it. It is a fast, and at some points quite a dangerous road.

[greybeard]

mcferguson, on Jun 15 2010, 03:25 PM, said:

Over here we have a minimum speed limit of 45mph on the interstate highways (which I believe are equivalent to your A highways). It doesn't matter what kind of vehicle a person is driving , they would be issued a ticket for impeding traffic. Apparently not the same over there?

Only on motorways ("M", not "A" roads).

[Rotarymotion]

It would be interesting to know what the real facts are. Many things don't seem to add up in this BBC story. It is important to remember that reports in the press are known as "Newspaper Stories", because that is often what they are (i.e. stories). In my experience, the BBC is not very different.

For example the report says "Essex Police were called to the southbound carriageway". That suggests that this section of the A12 is a dual carriageway, in which case the traffic would surely just have used the overtaking lane to pass the scooter rider, just as they would for a farm tractor, or a cyclist, or even a Sinclair C5.

The law allows class 3 mobility scooters (the ones that have a maximum speed of 8mph) to use dual carriageways, providing they have a flashing amber light operating. At night they must also display lights.

Its a good story, but I suspect the reports are missing or misrepresenting some details.

[edlee]

The story was,, in so far as I could understand it,, given my location in the states,, that he was impeding traffic enough for several people to call the authorities,,, and for a long enough time for them to actually get there.

This makes me think that this wasn't an area where passing in the opposing lane was an easily available option,, OR,, that he was traveling in a manner that precluded easy passing. Otherwise, why all the calls.

Here,, automobile traffic, does, indeed, have precedence,,, due to size, if nothing else.

I've often thought that if Any vehicle was to have an equal right to the road,, then it ought to be registered and licensed for that use. We are, by and large, a motorized society, over here,, and as such are perhaps a bit stricter on what we allow on the road with us. Not that it helps much,, as out +/-30,000 traffic deaths per year would indicate.
ed

[greybeard]

edlee, on Jun 15 2010, 08:50 PM, said:

I've often thought that if Any vehicle was to have an equal right to the road,, then it ought to be registered and licensed for that use. We are, by and large, a motorized society, over here,, and as such are perhaps a bit stricter on what we allow on the road with us.

Don't want to labour the point, Ed, but the 8mph mobility scooters do have to be registered and licensed (for free) as "invalid carriages" to make them legal for use on public roads.

I have two. They are both licensed and have been issued with their own registration numbers, but for some reason that I can't fathom these don't have to be displayed like they do on other motorised vehicles.