Road Rage

[tamaranth]

Have just been a victim of road rage.

1. I had to slow down behind a motorised vehicle, despite the fact that I was freewheeling on a bicycle.
2. I nearly went straight into side of vehicle, which did not signal as it went round the roundabout where West Hill meets the busy ringroad.
3. I braked hard and shouted, "You should be on the pavement, not the road!"
4. The driver shook his / her fist and swore at me.

As far as I can tell from this Hansard page, I was actually wrong*: it is perfectly legal to operate a motorised wheelchair on a public highway.

As long as it doesn't go over 8 miles per hour.

Bloody hell. I had always assumed they were intended for pavement use (where they pose a different kind of hazard: pedestrians diving into hedges, apoplectic dogs, schoolchildren pointing and laughing). I applaud the mobility that they offer to the disabled and infirm.

But I can't believe it is safe to drive a vehicle with a maximum speed of 8mph, and no signals, on a busy road.

*you may wish to make a note of the date. Of course I am often wrong -- in the last 48 hours I have apparently been wrong about a great many things, such as exercise contributing to weight-loss; the Harry Potter books being fantasy; my ability to identify rabbit droppings; whether or not Lambrusco is fit for human consumption -- but I seldom admit it.

Comments

[elinor.livejournal.com]

in the last 48 hours I have apparently been wrong about a great many things, such as exercise contributing to weight-loss; the Harry Potter books being fantasy; my ability to identify rabbit droppings; whether or not Lambrusco is fit for human consumption

Oh dear. I take it your sister is one of those people with a pathological need to be right? (or is it a pathological for you to be wrong?) ::sympathies::

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I think it's more that we just take totally different things for granted, and then I say something like "I've put on a bit of weight now that I don't swim or cycle as much," and get an unexpected argument.

There are quite a lot of conversations that I simply won't have with her, never mind how much willpower it requires for me to keep my mouth shut!

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Wow. If it's any consolation, that logically means you can be done for being drunk in charge of a wheelchair..

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

You can get points on your motor vehicle license, if you have one, for being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle. So I don't see why not.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

That's quite surprising, given the police in Brum had to escort one of these carriages off a city centre underpass a couple of years back.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

He may well be allowed to travel on the public highway in such a conveyance (like people on sit-down lawnmowers), but I'm pretty sure that does NOT remove his responsibility to signal to other road users - unless he had no hands, of course.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Indeed - there are rules to be obeyed.

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

There is a minimum speed on motorways (35mph I believe) but not generally on other roads. It could be covered by 'failing to show due consideration for other road users' of course. As I believe tractors (etc) are obliged to pull over if they attract a queue of more than 5 vehicles behind them.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I think that tractor pull over thing is urban (rural?) myth tho do you get laws like that in the US plenty. IOt mioght be construed as "dangerous driving" though.
You can get failed in your test for driving too slowly..

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

This has been a bug-bear of mine for ages. Well, since I moved to Tonbridge. People pootle around country lanes in invalid carriages around here, which is incredibly dangerous. Though of course, they also drive on the pavements up the High Street, mowing down the pedestrians as they go, and pleading old age and bad eyesight as an excuse.

There definitely needs to be a change in the law.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Having negotiated Tonbridge High Street, I can see their point. When I have an invalid carriage, I shall have scythes attached to the wheels.

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

When I have an invalid carriage, I shall have scythes attached to the wheels.

Excellent plan! Now, where are we going to put the machine-gun mounts?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

*shudder* but think of the noise. (D'you take me for latexiron or something?)

Scythes. And possibly nerve gas. Or possibly cat-breath. (Sam is helping me type.)

[damienw]

gas-powered flechettes. quiet and efficient.

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

Lambrusco is definitely NOT fit for human consumption, unless everything else, including the sherry, is gone and you still can't sleep.

Unfortunately, I can see you in a disability motorised vehicle in about 50 years, all chrome and matte black, with studs, skulls (preferably real) and flamethrowers.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

apart from the time estimate, I think you are spot on. It will be much sooner than that if I continue to fall apart at the seams ...

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

(offers you an overlocker for those pesky seams)

How about an offer to wash the taste of Lambrusco out of your mouth with nice fizzy stuff? It has been far too long etc, and even if you think you aren't fit for human company, it would still be very lovely to see you again.

Oh, and I think I know just the gentlemen to help you customise your vehicle. Summer camp? Mr. Campbell and co? You know it makes sense! It might end up being purple metalflake instead of appropriate black, but the weaponry would be so impressive. Did you see any of the pictures of the range rover converted to a quad bike?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes, pray rid me of the taste of Lambrusco. (Sister, Friday night: "I know you like fizzy pink wine ..." Me: [perks up] Sister: "... so I got you this." Me: [fixed smile]) Though am not sure when or where: this werk thing doesn't half get in the way of having a social life! And of course I am off to Turkey in a fortnight to watch the sun go out ...

Would be fab to see you though. But please may I pass on the purple metalflake?