The British department of transport is looking into the increase in pedestrian injuries caused by electric buggies favoured by pensioners. More details in our collection of motoring tales.
‘Pensioners’ buggies dangerous’
The British department of transport is looking into the increase in pedestrian injuries caused by electric buggies favoured by pensioners.
reported that the department was reviewing the manufacturer and registration of the buggies after six accidents were recorded in one month in one town.
“It is something we are looking at in response to there being more elderly people now and more people staying mobile by using these vehicles,” said Dorchester councillor Sue Wakely.
“They are the most fantastic things because they give people independence but, having said that, the people who use them are not given any tuition. We also need some form of insurance and identity scheme because after an accident, these vehicles can just ride off.”
The department said it needed to look at the structure of the vehicles and the safety aspect.
Fiery chaser
A New Zealand man was arrested after he was spotted semi-naked speeding down a road on a motorised bar stool with his backside on fire.
The reported that John Sullivan admitted he had too much to drink and a party game involving a rolled up newspaper and a cigarette lighter had caused his flaming rear. He said the motorised barstool could reach a speed of about 80 km/h.
Neighbours called the police after spotting him charging down the road. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. “One cop wasn’t too happy but the other two were laughing their heads off,” Sullivan told the newspaper after his court appearance.
Traffic-stopping moment
Policemen in Zwolle in the Netherlands held up traffic in rush hour to protect a guinea pig caught in the middle of the road.
The policemen saw the little animal running into the road and immediately got out and tried to catch it. They stopped cars and grabbed the guinea pig and put it in box provided by a neighbour.
The policemen returned the pet to a girl who was crying because the guinea pig had jumped out of the bag as she rode her bicycle.