As someone thst has recenly been prescribed a class 3 powerchair (that can
go on the road, so can go faster than 4mph on the road, but not on the
pavement, i agree that cyclists and drivers on the road, are as much, if not
more of a menace, than powerchair users on the pavement.
also, i was very honest and registerred it with the dvla, and after thrir
checks they sent me a 0 tax disc, but unfortunately with a disc holder meant
for inside a car windscreen and so compledtely not fit for purpose for
displaying on a powerchair. When i challenged them about this, they said its
all tehy have and i should get one from a post office. finding someone to do
things like that for you id timre and energy consuming. someone first
checked with small post office other people then checked in main ones, but
they all said they just do the standard car disc holder. I think that i have
just found a motorcycle one on line and have ordered it - but i dont know
who i will manage to find to buy/pick up and fit a bolt to affix it with to
the powerchair with.
I got one that i had to contributre towards, as i wanted one that the seat
raises on, so that Ican reach things on shop shelves when i feel well
enough. So its £000s more than the standard wheelchair service rescribed
ones. i was shocked when i got it just before Christmas, when the co said
even when i was confident enough to try getting it in a london taxi, there
would not be room to turn it around in it, to get in the podsition that
it can be sqafely secured. What a rip off. i want to be able to go to
things that are too difficult a route on buses and get to them quickly and
safely in a taxi. Now i feel that i am still trapped in a small local area.
In fact an elderly friend /neighbour from where i used to live would like to
get me free tickets for a west end show that one of her daughters stars in,
and another is producing, but I have now way of getting there.
Sally
2009/2/19 Emma Rowlett <[log in to unmask]>
> To be fair, where I live people regularly cycle and even drive on the
> pavement so it isn't fair to be so hard on power wheelchair and
> scooter users. Most are very considerate, and perhaps many of those
> that speed do not know there is a speed limit.
>
> One man has been banned from hiring powered scooters from his local
> shop mobility service for speeding and said he didn't know there was a
> limit -
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-497989/Man-banned-using-electric-wheelchair-caught-speeding.html
>
> An interesting side note... Power wheelchair and scooter users are
> exempt from the drive drive laws, and although there is a basic safety
> issue it would be rather discriminatory to say that they can't drink -
> http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=205655&in_page_id=34
> .
>
> In Germany it seems this is not the case -
>
> http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/08/30/ban-for-disabled-man-caught-speeding-in-his-electric-wheelchair-115875-20717000/
>
> Emma
>
>
> On 19/02/2009, Allan Sutherland <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > A hundred or so years ago, vehicles travelling at this speed were
> required
> > to have a man with a red flag walking in front.
> >
> > Perhaps that legislation needs bringing back..
> >
> > Allan Sutherland
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Emma Rowlett" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: "Allan Sutherland" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 1:53 PM
> >
> > Subject: Re: speed of motorised wheelchairs
> >
> >
> > That's worrying!
> >
> > Emma
> >
> > On 19/02/2009, Allan Sutherland <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > My partner had a series of electric tricycles, each more powerful than
> its
> > > predecessor.
> > >
> > > I noticed, however, that they were all described as having a top speed
> of
> > 4
> > > mph.
> > >
> > > So I'm not sure that manufacturers pay too much attention to the law.
> > >
> > >
> > > Allan Sutherland
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Emma Rowlett" <
> [log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 1:27 PM
> > >
> > > Subject: Re: speed of motorised wheelchairs
> > >
> > >
> > > In the UK the speed limit is 4 miles an hour (6 km an hour) on the
> > > pavement and 8 mile an hour (12 km an hour) on the road. I think many
> > > powered wheelchairs and scooters are limited to 4 miles an hour, but
> > > others can go faster. There are requirements like using lights on the
> > > road at night though and these can be found in the highway code for
> > > powered wheelchairs and scooters -
> > >
> > http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069852.
> > >
> > > This law exists to protect other road and pavement users, particularly
> > > those with disabilities (especially visual impairments). Powered
> > > wheelchairs and scooters are potentially dangerous - not only to other
> > > road and pavement users but also to those using them. A friend of
> > > mine fell out of his powered wheelchair when he went down a curb too
> > > fast and it fell on top of him. I'm visually impaired and was run
> > > into by an powered scooter last year that was speeding around a corner
> > > and it hurt like hell. If he'd been travelling at a more sensible
> > > speed he might have been able to stop in time. It seems sensible to me
> > > that if those using powered wheelchairs and scooters are going to
> > > share the pavement with pedestrians they have speed limits similar to
> > > the speed that pedestrians walk.
> > >
> > > I hope this helps,
> > >
> > > Emma
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 19/02/2009, Maria <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > Thank you, for the information you sent. I'm a little amazed that >
> > other
> > > > countries already thought about it. Did anyone consult the user of
> the
> > > > chairs/scooter regarding the speed?
> > > > Some people say I go fast on my chair outside, yet, I think I'm
> > > moderate,
> > > > especially in winter when its cold and I want to get inside quickly.
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Emma Friesen"
> > > > <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:45 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: speed of motorised wheelchairs
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > In Australia it is an issue because of the definition of a "vehicle"
> in
> > > > state transport regulations. In some states, a "vehicle" is defined
> on >
> > the
> > > > basis of speed and weight - and technically if a wheelchair or
> scooter >
> > can
> > > > travel faster than 10 km / hr, it is considered a "vehicle". It then
> > > > requires registration to be used legally. Some government funding
> bodies
> > > > make it a requirement that suppliers limit the maximum speed of
> > > powerchairs
> > > > / scooters so the burden of registration isn't passed to the user.
> > > >
> > > > Emma.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > Emma Friesen
> > > > Rehabilitation Engineer
> > > >
> > > > _c Assistive Technology & Seating
> > > > |[-_ (A division of Clinical Technology Service,
> > > > (o) .\_ Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service)
> > > >
> > > > Ph: 02 9808 9292
> > > > Fax: 02 9808 9682
> > > > Email: [log in to unmask]
> > > > Address: 600 Victoria Road, RYDE NSW 2112
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Maria <[log in to unmask]> Thursday, 19 February 2009 1:23:57 am
> >>>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > Hi Everyone
> > > >
> > > > This is an inquiry regarding a policy that is being imposed on
> person
> > > with
> > > > disabilities (motorised wheelchair users in Quebec. Our government,
> > > decided
> > > > unilaterally -without consultation to impose a 10 km hr speed on
> > > wheelchairs
> > > > that it provides for us, Anywhere else that such policy exist? If yes
> >
> > how
> > > > did it come about? And Why?
> > > >
> > > > Maria
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Disclaimer: Unless explicitly attributed, the opinions expressed in
> >
> > this
> > > > email are those of the author only and do not represent the official
> >
> > view
> > > of
> > > > Northern Sydney Central Coast Health nor the New South Wales
> Government.
> > > > ________________End of message________________
> > > >
> > > > This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
> > > School of Sociology and Social Policy
> > > University of Nottingham
> > >
> > > [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > > www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
> > >
> > > ________________End of message________________
> > >
> > > This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
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> > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> > > Checked by AVG.
> > > Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1948 - Release Date:
> > > 12/02/2009 07:20
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
> > School of Sociology and Social Policy
> > University of Nottingham
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> > Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> > Checked by AVG.
> > Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1948 - Release Date:
> > 12/02/2009 07:20
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
> School of Sociology and Social Policy
> University of Nottingham
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
>
> ________________End of message________________
>
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