General Chat

I was reminded by Baz's Grr that there is another problem growing quietly and some brave soul is going to have to face it soon. We have a growing menace of mobile Mobility Carts, Where as I don't begrudge the elderly and disabled an opportunity to get out and about I am becoming very concerned about the ability of SOME of the users to apply road craft to the use of them. May I quote my own first hand example. My mother-in-law recently had her driving lisence taken away as she was a danger to herself and all other road users and pedestrians. The very next day she purchased a MOBILITY CART nO TUITION WAS GIVEN. No test was passed. Some of these carts have a speed of 18mls. an hour,It doesn't sound much,but there is an elderly lady in Weymouth who drives hers at max speed and progresses through the town shouting Make Way,Coming Through. The day will come when she knocks a child down. I came home the other night to find an old boy driving up the wrong side of the road towards me in one of these things. I only saw him at the last minute I sound like Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells, Remember Him Rose

Sorry to make light of this... but I just have visions of the (Tango ?) advert on teh TV... "STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE" ! lol

Hiya Rose We had a woman in my home town turn her buggy upside down on a step hill a few years ago, she didnt hurt herself but it made the local newspapers. Karen (Of Tunbridge Wells, but NOT DISGUSTED :-) )

Hubby took Grand-daughter out in her pushchair and made way for one of these buggys and they didn't even have the decency to say thank you..... and they were on the PAVEMENT!!

Portland Baz, I like both suggestions. Paul I like the visual humour,perhaps you will like this one. You remember Robot Wars? Well one of my sons is very Zany,he works at a reclaimation Yard and they have invented Sumo Wrestling Washing machine and Spin Dryers. It is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I keep telling him to market it. But Tangoing Mobility Carts is fun. And Yes I too have had to step aside for them as they hurtle down the pavement. Rose on the Island

Portland Baz, is that near Portland Bill ? lol

Hi Rosemary My mother in law has one of these mobility ram raiders, which gets her about and takes the burden from us to do all the running around. That's the good side and unfortunately I do not think she will live long enough to see the new year in. She makes my heart stop when she bombs down the road (in the road) at break neck speed, navigates round a roundabout and takes the third exit off only to drive down a dual carriageway - she seems to think she has every right to do this, putting car drivers at risk, and to top it all she has joined the AA for breakdown and homestart service. When on the other hand we have a local oap and soar puss who hogs the pavement, and is intent on steering his ram raider at you should you decide to try and pass him. I agree with you they are a complete menace (the drivers) and should be given lessons on where and how to drive these things oh and some behaviour therapy. Lin

It IS Portland Bill Paul Rose

Oh Lin I do like that I laughed at Ram Raiders,a Great Description. Do you mind if I hi jack it Rose They do as I said,forget all they ever learned of Road craft. Your mother in law sounds just like mine. I really do think it is only a matter of time before one of them(The drivers) causes a serious accident.

You go ahead Rose be my guest Lin

Hi Karen,Thanks for replying. They are an excellent mode of transport for the elderly and the disabled,but like most new ideas,it is a while before the legislation catches up to control them. It is just that some of the users are so unaware of the potential hazards of what they should be in control of. Hugs Rose

Hi Karen Going round the shopping centre is not a problem - infact I have almost been tempted to hitch a ride after walking my feet off. The untimate with regards to dear old mother in law is if its raining up goes the umbrella - so infact she is steering with one hand whilst contemplating the third turn off from the roundabout - Mary Poppins eat you're heart out. Lin

To take your comment on the Police inactivity it takes me back to when I lived in Wimborne Dorset some years ago. The level of driving was appalling. One particular day when I had had a near miss ,yet again from a vehicle driven by an elderly motorist I went into the local Cop Shop. Relayed my concerns and a sympathetic desk sergeant told me that the message to back pedal and go softly softly with the local elderly drivers had come from above. I think he meant senior Officers,not God. One of my friends was still driving and he was bind in one eye. If you walked past him in the street on the wrong side he could not see you. So how could he be safe to drive.

I love the Mary Poppins imagery

You mean the local bobbies are turning a blind eye Lin

It is all so gloriously anarchic. Do you think that is where we are heading/

Yes Lin,but it was 20 yrs ago. Maybe things are tighter now

I think our home grown Oap's are definitely anarchists in the making, they are like volcano's ready to erupt - just think protest on council tax today, the rights on where they can drive tomorrow. Lin

Youare right there Lin,I chaired our local Seniors Forum for a year and it was hectic. We lobbied and marched and held protests in the town. I had to resign because my blood pressure was getting out of control again. Pity. I realy enjoyed it. Rose I love a good scrap

What do they say "Keep Death off the Road,Drive on the Pavement"