Safe Speed Forums

MP wants brakes put on Hell's Grannies
By Steve Bird

THEY are nicknamed “Hell’s Grannies” for recklessly driving their motorised wheelchairs at speeds of up to 8mph on Britain’s pavements and roads. Now an MP wants the Government to regulate the use of electric vehicles used by thousands of pensioners and disabled people.
Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, fears that powered wheelchairs pose a serious threat to their drivers and pedestrians.

Last year, eight people died in motorised wheelchair crashes. One woman was killed when she reversed off a pier into the sea. There were also 1,134 “adverse” incidents involving the vehicles, according to Government statistics for 2004.

Mr Russell said that problems arise because owners do not need insurance or proof that they are fit enough to drive the vehicle and that it is properly maintained.

“This is a very serious issue for both the users and pedestrians,” he said.“The machines can travel at up to 8mph and weigh more than 100kg — at that speed it could seriously hurt a toddler and an adult if there was a collision.”

Mr Russell said that the vehicles are “a boon for elderly, frail, chronically sick and disabled people”, but said that the legal and regulatory regime governing their use “is at best unclear and at worst a muddle”.

Many people get sound advice when buying the machines from reputable dealers, he said, but vehicles are also bought second-hand, privately or through “unscrupulous” dealers.

“The second-hand market can be seen at car-boot sales and in the for-sale columns in local newspapers,” Mr Russell said. “People . . . may not be getting the correct vehicle for their needs, be told how to drive it properly or know whether it is actually fit to be driven.”

Mr Russell’s campaign has enraged some people who regard their motorised wheelchair as a necessity. Allen Jones, chairman of the Wheelchair Users’ Group, said that cyclists should face similar, tighter regulations if the law is changed for pensioners and disabled people.

“Mr Russell ought to do his homework,” he said. “Where’s the evidence that people in powered scooters are causing problems? “Will they now regulate cyclists who travel much faster and often on the pavements? Just as there are good and bad cyclists, there are good and bad users of powered wheelchairs.”

Mr Jones, 61, suffers from a muscle-wasting disease and has used a motorised chair for nearly ten years. “My power chair is actually my legs, it’s part of me,” he said. “But I have seen some people driving like stupid idiots. They should know better.”

The charity advises its members to drive at less than 2mph on busy pavements. It also urges them to take out insurance and ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained.

Under current legislation there are two categories of electric wheelchairs: those with a top speed of 4mph, the legal limit for pavements, and those that can reach 8mph and be driven on the roads.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said that the NHS, which provides only 4mph vehicles, assesses the competence of a potential driver before issuing a chair.

The Department for Transport recently started to review the laws governing the use of “invalid carriages”, the legal term for motorised wheelchairs. During a debate in the House of Commons this month on the dangers of motorised wheelchairs, Dr Stephen Ladyman, the Health Minister with responsibility for wheelchairs, said that police can carry out checks to ensure that the machines are being driven within speed limits.

"Hell's grannies" is the nickname given to the worst users of the machines, which are driven by 100,000 Britons.

Last year, seven motorised wheelchair users died in crashes and 402 were involved "adverse" incidents, according to government figures.