Driving up A46 dual carriageway north of Leicester at lunchtime today. Road not very busy but still a good few cars doing 70 or more, when up ahead of me, about 300 yards I spy a small vehicle occupying middle of the inside lane and I was gaining on it very quickly (doing about 60 having just come up a slip road). As I got closer I realised it was one of those invalid/shopping things driven by old bloke at about 5-10 mph. It was one of those little things with 6in grey tyres, maroon "bodywork" covering the batteries etc and steered with handlebars with a shopping basket on the front- the sort of thing you see IN Sainbury's. Is it illegal? Is it just a silly thing to do (no pavements or cycle tracks mind). Should I have rung the police? Did the old bloke survive? Did he cause an accident? Would you have done anything?
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Phil
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Actionable under S135 MHA in my opinion.
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S135 MHA enter what premises? he was on the road do you mean he wanted sectioning? you usually find that people who do this are suffering from alcheimers and to be honest you should have reported it.Over the years plenty of my friends parents (singular) have got this diease and its not nice, if you see it again please phone the authorities.
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
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Certainly ileagal.
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Told my wife this evening, she said I should have reported it because old bloke might have been disoriented, got onto road by accident etc. Feel a bit guilty now - hope he is OK.
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Phil
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Legal on "A" roads,illegal only on "M".
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Clearly dangerous in this situation, but what is the general legal position?
I often see them around town, mainly on the pavements, but often driving along the road too. Are they exempt from licencing and tax requirements etc because they are electric-powered?
Does the driver need a driving licence?
Are there any age limits?
Would a young person be legal driving one?
Are they insured?
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Have come across invalid buggies / cyclists / tractors many a time on the A38 Expressway in Devon. You can usually tell they're ahead from the panicked swerving and braking in the distance. The problem is pulling out to overtake if you end up behind one, as you have to gain about 60MPH.
Speaking of legalities, are mopeds allowed to use cycle lanes? I noticed a couple of them buzzing through Headingley using the lanes to overtake stationary traffic.
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Catogry B, restricted to 4mph allowed only on pavments.
Catogry C, restricted to 8mph allowed on both pavments and highway provided that they have independant brakes (do nor relie on the motor to brake) and a rear broake light. And must have a restricttor switch limiting the vehicle to 4mph for use on pavments. And the freightning part, no liecence is needed to use them on the highway.
Dave
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Personally I would have phoned the Police for the blokes own safety, especially if he was in the middle of the lane; they usually stay near the kerb. Theres a old chap on our estate who "walks" his dog on one at night, and meeting him coming round a corner is dodgy even at 15mph (its a small dead-end estate with speed bumps all over).
I was driving down the M1 a few months ago and saw blue flashing lights behind me, the police car dropped in behind me and I thought "what have I done?". Then 300 yards further up I saw the target - a 20 year old lad riding down the hard shoulder on a mountain bike. His face was a picture when he looked round to see the Volvo T5 stopping behind him!
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Pedestrians and cyclists are allowed on dual carriageways unless specifically prohibited from a particular section. In such circumstances I would say that the old chap in the buggy was quite within his rights, though somewhat foolhardy, to be riding it on the dual carriageway.
The other day I had to slow for a jogger who was running in the carriageway on a main A road despite there being a proper pavement right next to him. My blast on the horn and waving had no effect - he stayed in the road.
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I generally call the BiB if I have any concerns re the pavement hoggers taking to lane 1.
I also called them one evening when some youngsters were walking up onto the A40 at the Westway by the BBC White City end.
No cars were broken down so no leaving/returning excuse, just a few brain cells missing. BiB thanked me and said they would investigate.
My bit completed, I travelled on.
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Mopeds, scooters etc are generally barred from bus lanes but restrictions vary, check the signage. I have vague recollections of PTW's being permitted on Kirkstall Rd at one time. Bristol have experimented as well and there have been prposals on some routes in Enfield.
Generally not welcomed by the cyclists.
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I bought one of these for my little sis when she became ill. You haven?t experienced fun till you?ve terrorised pensioners on one in the Arndale Centre.
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Not very sensible rather than daft, but...bicycles are legal on dual carriageways and some of those are less visible than these buggies and just as slow so what is the problem other than that other drivers take some sort of exception to them using the highway. I used to see a chap regularly on his Sinclair C5 on an A-road only, admittedly, and that is less visible than an upright buggy. However, the highway is there for all users unless there are sound reasons, as for motorways, to have restrictions. What comes next? A ban on horses on roads, no dog walking on the highway even with a lead, a medical certificate for all over 70s caught outdoors on tarmac? Obviously anyone trying to repeat the round-the-world trip in a Rytecraft should avoid the A46.
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They should take these awful buggies away from the OAPs and .......... give them quadbikes! Let them have a bit of fun.
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IanS
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