Has anyone else experienced being "mugged" by the MBM?
You've seen 'em: the little red electric buggies for mobility impaired folk to get about whilst shopping. Whilst understanding and appreciating what a marvellous aid to mobility these little chariots are for people who cannot walk far, I'm becoming increasingly aware that they're beginning to develop an "attitude" which goes something like this:
Get out of my fucking way! I'm coming through!
Twice recently, and within the space of 20 mins, I've been quietly trogging down a major trunk road in the outer leafy suburbs of a city, minding my own business, fully freighted and almost up to the maximum 44 ton limit for a rig in this country, when the MBM have struck out of the blue.
Their modus operandi is to suddenly scoot across the road in front of you with absolutely no prior warning of their intention and clearly without a care in the world or the slightest regard for the practicalities of trying to stop a rig of this size on a sixpence. :doh:
Do these folk have a death-wish? If so (and in the unlikely event of them being SH peeps) can they please take note!!
I DO NOT WISH TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING YOU INTO A JAM SANDWICH
Not long ago the driver of a large artic was killed on a motorway because some idiotic driver in a car cut across in front of him at the last second from the outside lane to the exit slip. The truck driver could have not tried to take evasive action in which case he would still be alive today, and he probably wouldn't even have felt the impact as he reduced the car to a pile of scrap. As it turned out he did the natural thing and tried to avoid an accident. Unfortunately he paid with his life whilst the car and driver escaped without a scratch.
Has anyone else got any stories to tell of being mugged by this increasingly militant lot?
Most road users are arseholes, regardless of what they're driving. That includes truckers, buggyists, pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers... you name it, and singling out a particular group for criticism is missing the point I feel: To be safe on the road, I think what you really need to do is drive defensively and expect everyone else to screw up.
When I passed my driving test (rather a long time ago now), my Father sent me a post card. On the front was an Orang Utan on the back was the message "Treat all other drivers as if they were one of these. Well done." I kept that post card in my cars for years.
I used to work in Lytham St Annes.
That place is 90% wrinklies (that is said in an affectionate way - as many of the are lovely people)
BUT!!!!!!!!!!!
Those electric scooters!!!!
Sheesh!
They are a nightmare - they travel down the middle of the road.
No signals.
No looking beofre they cross junctions!
And once they have their raincovers up - they think they are invincible.
In the shopping area you can hardly find a bit of pavement to walk on - that town is full of the pesky things!
Alex x x
Well said EagerSlut.... There are a few round here that think because they have what almost count for 'lights' that they can drive on the road even at night... scurrying allong at 5 miles an hour on a road set for 60, completely ignoring the perfectly good pavement they could have been using.
I have also seen people trying to drive those things INSIDE shops... they usualy knock stuff over and make a right mess... not to mention causing chaos while at the same time being grumpy about it...
When I get that old I am gonna get me a motorbike, and ride it round in shops like an invalid carrage.
Ok,fun is fun,but I know a couple of people for whom these things have been a lifeline,giving them the chance to enjoy the mobilty that their health/physical problems has/have denied them.
I gotta say,for those of us lucky enough to be able to,walking rules!
Actually..WALKING ROCKS! - but,for those who can't,at least here's some kind of way at least to enjoy some independence.
I am not saying anyone is wrong for the comments about ignoramuses on shopmobility scooters, but please, people... invalid is just not acceptable to me, nor should it be to you.. think about the connotations.
And as for people with mobility problems not likely to be on SH? Careful, we'll come get ya with our sticks and wheelchairs and Zimmers.
You don't have to be old to need assistance walking or getting from A to B. Yes, you may need assistance to get TO the shop, but firstly, you can't always get a regular wheelchair into shops, let alone a buggy, and secondly, you can get out and walk in the shop because you did not walk there. It may be a distance thing.
By the way, I don't have a buggy, and I do hate the people with attitude. But the same can be said for baby buggies, cyclists... whoever. There are arseholes in every walk of life.
Can we make a distinction between the people who happen to use these aids and the idiots who use them?
When I was at my lowest with my cancer treatment I had no option but to use one if I wanted to get out and about but I hope I did so safely with consideration for others. You then get the idiots as you do in all walks of life that use them and think because they are in one the rules of the road do not apply to them!
It’s not the buggies themselves but the people who use them and not everybody who uses one is an inconsiderate person
Just to add another fly in the ointment... Its not confined to people using a mobility aid, riding a bike, or even driving. As most of you know I drive blue light vehicles on the side, and even then with the lights and in this case 2 tones blaring I still get pedestrians walking out infront of me...
As a few have said, a number of people on the planet seem to have no concept of safty. Whatever their mode of transport they can be dangerous. I feel for the truck driver who lost his life avoiding a car, I think most of us would swerve to avoid the idiot.
At the end of the day for those against this post, I am reading it right I think it is not about a section of the community, or the disabled however we were describing them, it is about inconsiderate people who are a danger to themselves and others.
