23/04/2012
Scooter safety deemed a serious issue
Motorised scooters have long been one of the most popular forms of transport among the elderly and people with mobility issues. Unfortunately media stories regarding the dangers posed by these slow-moving vehicles are all too common.
In 2010 an Essex resident sustained serious injuries after accidentally driving his scooter into a pothole and being jolted forward into the road. The following year a scooter user accidentally drove into an unsuspecting elderly shopper, who is yet to fully recover from her injuries.
It has been suggested that such accidents will keep happening until the scooter users are legally required to register for some form of on-road training. The Labour MP for Plymouth Davenport has also called for regular in-depth safety checks.
She said, “With an increasing ageing population, some action has to be taken to ensure that standards are maintained in terms of the safety of these vehicles and that some basic training is undertaken by all users.”
Any changes in the law are likely to be readily accepted by individuals who might have had to rely heavily upon friends and family if it hadn't been for their scooters. If the car world is anything to go by then training could even come with the incentive of a reduction in scooter insurance premiums.
In 2010 an Essex resident sustained serious injuries after accidentally driving his scooter into a pothole and being jolted forward into the road. The following year a scooter user accidentally drove into an unsuspecting elderly shopper, who is yet to fully recover from her injuries.
It has been suggested that such accidents will keep happening until the scooter users are legally required to register for some form of on-road training. The Labour MP for Plymouth Davenport has also called for regular in-depth safety checks.
She said, “With an increasing ageing population, some action has to be taken to ensure that standards are maintained in terms of the safety of these vehicles and that some basic training is undertaken by all users.”
Any changes in the law are likely to be readily accepted by individuals who might have had to rely heavily upon friends and family if it hadn't been for their scooters. If the car world is anything to go by then training could even come with the incentive of a reduction in scooter insurance premiums.
Photo © Lighthelper :) back at work for now. :) via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: insurance, mobility, pothole, premiums, road, scooters, transport, vehicles
05/03/2012
Three-piece disaster waiting to happen
Nissan Micras are useful little cars, used and well-loved by many motorists in the UK.
However, they are not the ideal transport when you have a three-piece suite to move from A to B.
One driver thought they’d try anyway though, and was spotted by another road user near Exeter on the A30 with a settee and an armchair on his car’s roof, and another armchair in the boot.
There was no roof rack, and the items were only held down with some lengths of string and the passenger’s left hand.
It seems that the motorist was well aware of the inadequate job he’d made of securing the furniture to his vehicle, since he was only travelling at 30mph on the 70mph stretch of highway.
The whole affair could have resulted in a very serious accident and the head of Devon and Cornwall police’s traffic department has stated that they will be making contact with the driver.
He said, “Drivers who decide to use entirely unsuitable vehicles to carry large loads present a danger to other road users.
“The load may be tied on to the vehicle but the vehicle itself is entirely inappropriate for carrying such large pieces of furniture.”
So, the next time you’re going to carry large items of furniture on a small car – don’t – hire a van instead.
However, they are not the ideal transport when you have a three-piece suite to move from A to B. One driver thought they’d try anyway though, and was spotted by another road user near Exeter on the A30 with a settee and an armchair on his car’s roof, and another armchair in the boot.
There was no roof rack, and the items were only held down with some lengths of string and the passenger’s left hand.
It seems that the motorist was well aware of the inadequate job he’d made of securing the furniture to his vehicle, since he was only travelling at 30mph on the 70mph stretch of highway.
The whole affair could have resulted in a very serious accident and the head of Devon and Cornwall police’s traffic department has stated that they will be making contact with the driver.
He said, “Drivers who decide to use entirely unsuitable vehicles to carry large loads present a danger to other road users.
“The load may be tied on to the vehicle but the vehicle itself is entirely inappropriate for carrying such large pieces of furniture.”
So, the next time you’re going to carry large items of furniture on a small car – don’t – hire a van instead.
Photo © rileyroxx via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 30mph, A30, accident, armchair, car, driver, furniture, motorist, Nissan Micra, police, road, roof rack, settee, three-piece suite, transport
10/02/2012
Taxi to my crime den, please
Obviously we don’t condone any criminal activities at all – in fact we’re quite against any unlawful behaviour.
However, I think you’d agree that if you are going to commit a crime – burgling for example – then you should think about how you’re going to get away afterwards without being caught.
Two ridiculous thieves in Suffolk didn’t think about this very hard before stealing things from a log cabin in Haverhill which was positioned next to the owner’s home and being used as a recording studio.
One of the men, worried that he was going to be late for a dentist appointment – no joke – had asked his mate to help him with the robbery.
After taking some audio and recording equipment worth around £7465, the pair ordered a taxi and used their real names and gave the ringleader’s real home address!
The taxi driver thought their behaviour and what they wanted transported was suspicious, so he called the police. Around a similar time the owner of the log cabin reported the burglary, and a little later the neighbours of the burglars alerted police to suspicious goods being unloaded.
Needless to say both thieves pleaded guilty to their crimes – they had so much proof of their criminal activities stacked up against them there wouldn’t have been any point pleading innocent.
Honest citizens and police: One.
Bungling burglars: Zero.
However, I think you’d agree that if you are going to commit a crime – burgling for example – then you should think about how you’re going to get away afterwards without being caught. Two ridiculous thieves in Suffolk didn’t think about this very hard before stealing things from a log cabin in Haverhill which was positioned next to the owner’s home and being used as a recording studio.
One of the men, worried that he was going to be late for a dentist appointment – no joke – had asked his mate to help him with the robbery.
After taking some audio and recording equipment worth around £7465, the pair ordered a taxi and used their real names and gave the ringleader’s real home address!
The taxi driver thought their behaviour and what they wanted transported was suspicious, so he called the police. Around a similar time the owner of the log cabin reported the burglary, and a little later the neighbours of the burglars alerted police to suspicious goods being unloaded.
Needless to say both thieves pleaded guilty to their crimes – they had so much proof of their criminal activities stacked up against them there wouldn’t have been any point pleading innocent.
Honest citizens and police: One.
Bungling burglars: Zero.
Photo © Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: burgling, crime, criminal, log cabin, police, robbery, taxi, thieves, transport, unlawful
15/04/2011
Time for the cool bus
We may not see buses as being exciting and futuristic – but a new Dutch creation could change all that.
The Superbus, now on show at the World Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport in Dubai, is 15 feet in length (about a standard London bus), has six wheels, can seat 23 passengers, and apparently reaches a top speed of 155mph.
You might think that this vehicle cannot get any better – but wait – it runs using an electric motor and lithium batteries, so it’s eco-friendly too!
Oh, and did we forget to mention that the exterior is futuristic and aerodynamic, and the interior boasts a TV and internet access, as well as one air bag for every passenger?
A former Dutch astronaut, and member of the TU Delft University design team for the vehicle, stated, “The strength to the concept is that the Superbus can drive everywhere where a normal bus can drive.
“It has adjustable height, rear-wheel steering and a turning circle of roughly 10 metres.”
If the vehicle passes inspections by the government in the United Arab Emirates, then it could go into service there, just like any other bus!
If it does pass we’re going over to The Emirates to try it out and experience the most comfortable and stylish bus journey we’ll probably have ever been on – then we’ll send a letter to Boris Johnson explaining how the Superbus will improve London’s transport problems no end!
The Superbus, now on show at the World Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport in Dubai, is 15 feet in length (about a standard London bus), has six wheels, can seat 23 passengers, and apparently reaches a top speed of 155mph.
You might think that this vehicle cannot get any better – but wait – it runs using an electric motor and lithium batteries, so it’s eco-friendly too!
Oh, and did we forget to mention that the exterior is futuristic and aerodynamic, and the interior boasts a TV and internet access, as well as one air bag for every passenger?
A former Dutch astronaut, and member of the TU Delft University design team for the vehicle, stated, “The strength to the concept is that the Superbus can drive everywhere where a normal bus can drive.
“It has adjustable height, rear-wheel steering and a turning circle of roughly 10 metres.”
If the vehicle passes inspections by the government in the United Arab Emirates, then it could go into service there, just like any other bus!
If it does pass we’re going over to The Emirates to try it out and experience the most comfortable and stylish bus journey we’ll probably have ever been on – then we’ll send a letter to Boris Johnson explaining how the Superbus will improve London’s transport problems no end!
Labels: bus, eco-friendly, electric motor, lithium batteries, transport, vehicle
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