The totally off-topic thread

[RAM]

When my father in law was in his 90s, he legally was allowed to drive during daylight and within a few klms from home.

He would walk to the top of his driveway and forget where he lived. Thankfully his wife, mum in law, basically said no more driving and that was it, he was grounded.

If a person doesnt have dementia, mobility scooters are a great option. My mum goes to doctors appointment, shopping, church, visit friends ect with hers. Its given her freedom to be independent.

Out shopping yesterday late afternoon and just after we entered the car park a lady came charging up on a mobility scooter at high speed - faster than running pace - to a car about to drive down the out ramp. Or so we thought.

She was holding the over-flow from her shopping that did not fit in the crate on the back of her scooter - making it look as though she was trying to catch the car with something they had dropped.

NO, WE WERE WRONG!

She was trying to beat it to the out ramp.

She was "not happy Jan!" and started emitting very loud Dutch words. as she was forced to tailgate the too-slow car down.

I had heard that some scooters can go 20km or faster but had never seen one in action. Reminded me of a slow-news day recently where they were reporting the deaths caused by mobility scooters. The data is a bit scarce as often they are not recorded as the cause by the attending police. In NSW there are roughly 3 deaths from collisions with pedestrians or cars and around 170-200 serious injuries each year - with the cases detailed.

Seems there are no safety standards for max speed etc.

 

[JessicaTam]

I had heard that some scooters can go 20km or faster but had never seen one in action. Reminded me of a slow-news day recently where they were reporting the deaths caused by mobility scooters. The data is a bit scarce as often they are not recorded as the cause by the attending police. In NSW there are roughly 3 deaths from collisions with pedestrians or cars and around 170-200 serious injuries each year - with the cases detailed.

Seems there are no safety standards for max speed etc.

Maximum speed in Vic is 10kph. If the vehicle is capable of travelling faster than 10kph (regardless of the intent) it must be registered as a road going vehicle.

Edit: Motorised mobility devices : VicRoads

 

[whatmeworry]

as long as they did not kill themselves...

For both males and females - if you make it to 26 or so then you are likely to make it to 80s.

Well your frontal lobes don't fully form till the age of 25, hence why we have P plate laws and insurance rules that reflect impulse control in under-formed brains.

 

[Denali]

My mum doesn't take it into the car park, there's a little parking/charge section near the entrance. But everyone is different.

Her first scooter speedo was a dial, turtle to one side, rabbit on the other.

 

[whatmeworry]

Maximum speed in Vic is 10kph. If the vehicle is capable of travelling faster than 10kph (regardless of the intent) it must be registered as a road going vehicle.

Edit: Motorised mobility devices : VicRoads

Riding my mountain bike yesterday on a gravel track yesterday and doing a comfortable 30-40km an hour when a fellow bicyclist on a mountain bike passed me at a rate of knots. He was probably doing at least 60km an hour. I hadn't even had a Mamil on their 10K Carbon fibre limited edition Cadel Evans Road Bike, pass me at that speed.
He did a different loop but passed me again a couple km down the track when I noticed he had some sort of electric device that helped speed him up.
He was peddling but what is the point of exercising with that on?
Seen a few cyclists with electric and petrol assist devices driving at dangerous speeds.

 

[Denali]

Guy in my building uses an electric assist bike, I like them and would seriously consider buying one but not for mountain biking. Thats nuts.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Renovation of our en suite has begun....... 1 trip to the tip done...... expected completion.... February 2018.

Good luck. I hope things run smoothly and to time. We need a new en suite. The previous owners never finished their renovations and things just don't make sense with what we've got. We're not renovators so have just put up with it for years, but I think things will change in the next year.

 

[Denali]

Rude homeowner’s note shocks paramedics

It comes after a heartless homeowner left a shocking note on the windscreen of an ambulance while paramedics desperately worked to save a critically ill man’s life.

The unbelievable message read: “You may be saving lives, but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive.”

 

[whatmeworry]

Mercedes Team robbed.

SAO PAULO: Lewis Hamilton has demanded Formula One's owners take significant action after eight members of his world championship-winning Mercedes team were held at gunpoint in a harrowing robbery on Friday night.

The incident occurred at 10pm local time shortly after the crew – consisting mainly of mechanics – had left the Interlagos circuit.

Mercedes Formula One team robbed at gunpoint

 

[love_the_life]

When my father in law was in his 90s, he legally was allowed to drive during daylight and within a few klms from home.

He would walk to the top of his driveway and forget where he lived. Thankfully his wife, mum in law, basically said no more driving and that was it, he was grounded.

If a person doesnt have dementia, mobility scooters are a great option. My mum goes to doctors appointment, shopping, church, visit friends ect with hers. Its given her freedom to be independent.

My mum has a scooter and it is a godsend for her to go down the street and senior citizens etc. Anything too far she either has a person to drive her or takes a taxi.
My grandfather got to the stage where it was dangerous for him to be allowed to drive. He was once found driving the wrong way down the divided main street in Bairnsdale which just happened to be the Princes Highway.
My father removed the rotor button from the car and that solved the problem.

 

[Pushka]

Indeed it would be interesting.

Stereotypes about groups of drivers does nothing to enhance safety on the road (my post was tongue in cheek).

But are important for education purposes. To establish the true cause of accidents.

 

[Denali]

Despot Housewives on the History channel is interesting.

Wonder if they teach this type of history in schools these days, so many names that ring bells with me/from my youth in the 70-90s.

 

[Bindibuys]

Mercedes Team robbed.Mercedes Formula One team robbed at gunpoint

Sao Paulo, the one city in the world I have no wish to ever return too. I never felt safe there.

 

[whatmeworry]

I say Parma.

 

[Denali]

I feel that way when someone puts pineapple on pizza.

 

[Hvr]

My mum has a scooter and it is a godsend for her to go down the street and senior citizens etc.

I'm sure she drives safely but I see far too many people using these things as though they are driving on a speedway with pedestrians forced to jump out of their way to avoid injury.

 

[JessicaTam]

But are important for education purposes. To establish the true cause of accidents.

If only the same resources and rigour was put into investigating car accidents as aircraft accidents. Then we might be able to move away from stereotypes - or provide justification for them.

 

[Pushka]

If only the same resources and rigour was put into investigating car accidents as aircraft accidents. Then we might be able to move away from stereotypes - or provide justification for them.

SA’s road toll is way up this year. Increase in motorcycle rider deaths and general high speed on country roads. Lack of seat belts. So the usual - high speed, seatbelts and drugs. But we get too much money pinging people doing 54 in inner city roads on the basis of speed. Yeah.

 

[tgh]

Driving in New England recently , the absence of constabulary was a pleasant change.
Everybody settles into a speed on the motorways, usually about 75>80 mph
Very few hoons, all quite orderly in spite of some tailgating.
On foot everyone stops, they are so polite it's embarrassing… waiting at the curb for swmbo to catch up , look up to find 3 or 4 cars stopped… waiting patiently for her also… all a bit amazing.
Did more than 3000 miles and saw not one prang.
So much for the heavy breathing tax raising we have to live with

 

[whatmeworry]

SA’s road toll is way up this year. Increase in motorcycle rider deaths and general high speed on country roads. Lack of seat belts. So the usual - high speed, seatbelts and drugs. But we get too much money pinging people doing 54 in inner city roads on the basis of speed. Yeah.

I was driving down Ballarat Road the other day and a lane was blocked off, why? Because they had to fix the speed camera box before peak hour.

I think Victoria also has had a rise in motorbike rider deaths. I think it is partly because people are riding more, maybe due to money issues?

I think we need more Police patrolling highways and cracking down on bad drivers. I have mentioned this before, but the amount of Cars with Lights I think are not complaint with Australian Standards at night is just staggering.