General Chat

Hi all. From the Daily Telegraph today. "A robot that breaks wind and burps was named the top toy of the year yesterday The hi-tech Robotsapien also kicks, dances, raps and practises kung-fu" Please God they don't make one of them drive a Mobility Scooter!! Keith

I use the scooters from Shopmobility regularly and they are a godsend. I try to use it sensibly and think it is a shame that others are giving us a bad name. I'd also like to clear a couple of things up; 1. The scooters are not meant to be used on the road as you don't need tax etc for them. 2. I was always taught that if I had to go along the road for any reason you should go in the direction of the oncoming traffic so the person who was driving up the 'wrong' side of the road was in fact right. Mel

I tried one once, in a well known supermarket ,at a relatives suggestion,it shot off so fast it scared me,so now its a manual wheelchair for me and a friend pushes me,once a week outing Lucy

An elderly friend of my mother-in-law was knocked down by an elderly 'gentleman' on a buggy. He didn't even stop and the police were unable to trace him. Sadly M-i-L's friend suffered a badly broken leg, and has since died as a result of her injuries. I was in BeWise in Worthing last Friday when an elderly lady on a shopmobility buggy reversed straight into a baby in a pushchair. If my M-i-L hadn't shouted 'STOP' very loudly, I shudder to think what might have happened. Then the driver said she couldn't see when she was going backwards because the mirror was broken! My husband has a golfing-type invalid buggy which has a speed limiter of 4mph or 8mph. It is designed to drive over uneven surfaces like grass or rough paths. If I drive it at 4mph on the pavement it frightens me - goodness knows how older non drivers cope on their shopmobility buggies! The younger grandchildren argue over who gets to ride with Grandad on his 'cart' when we go out. Sue

My eyes are crossing,I'm going off for a bit

Fine Jim, Put it down to not appreciating the skills of adaptation. Did not mean to offend. Rose

Sorry Rosemary, I agree with you about the Silver ram raiders, but must take issue with you about the Blind in one eye bit. I lost an eye when I was about 10. You quickly learn to compensate. In fact over the years I have always proved to be more observant than my companions. When I drive I have mirrors to help me with the blind spots, same as all the other drivers. The difference is that I use mine. Jim

Rosemary are you an anarchist of tomorrow? Lin

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

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

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

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

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

You mean the local bobbies are turning a blind eye Lin

I love the Mary Poppins imagery

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.

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

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

You go ahead Rose be my guest Lin

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.