Elderly man dies in scooter crash

[Astranomical]

Man dies after Queensland scooter crash | News.com.au

AN elderly man injured in a collision between his mobility scooter and a car on Saturday has died in a Gold Coast hospital.

The 82-year-old was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital after the collision, which occurred on the intersection of Government Road and Beitz Avenue in Labrador.

He died on Sunday morning.

The man is one of five people killed on Queensland roads during the Christmas period.

The national Christmas road toll stands at 17.

I really do wish that elderly people would realise that while YES, a mobility scooter is a wheeled vehicle with a motor, just like a car, it is not a car, and belongs on the footpath, not the road. I've lost count of how many times I've had near-misses with old farts on scooters both as a motorist and as a pedestrian. As much as most of us hate cyclists (I don't and always give them plenty of room when going around them), at least they a) belong on the road, and b) don't cause as much trouble as old farts on scooters.

[GothicKidd]

I absolutly hate elderly on the road! Theres about 3 of them around down. there max speed is 5k's per hour and they hold me up so many times it's annoying.. Theyd be able to notice people behind them.. and theres HEAPS of footpath(im talking, if I really wanted to I could use that to overtake him) 1cm away but they keep on the road.

Tragic news but they need to learn to use foot paths. They don't need anything to drive them and they're allowed to use the road? I mean with bike riders they try to move over when they can but yeah.

[les82]

I agree, they shouldnt be on the road.
However I disagree with the comment about cyclists. They can cause just as many problems, especially when they ride 2 or more side by side. If they belong on the road, they should be paying CTP and rego and have brake lights and indicators fitted. just my 2cents worth

[Garth]

why stop there, lets lock the old people up and put them in homes where they are hurded around like sheep and forced to make blankets for us young people!!!!!

come on, it's the year 2011, if you cant handle it, then perhaps you shouldnt be on the road.

[VRCALAISS]

cyclist an elderly can get the #### off the road,it's for cars an trucks motorbikes,we can't drive on the footpath can we....

[les82]

I think you might be missing the point there. There are a heap of footpaths available that could be used. instead they are using the roads which not only endangers their own lives but that of other motorists.

[87RB30VL]

Stupid hoons.

As a few of you may know, I work at a Nursing Home, and a few months ago, I saw one of our residents on his mobility scooter thing, lose control over a speed bump and smash into a staff members car. He then proceeded to get off his scooter, pick up his basket of whatever he was carrying, and then jump back on and bail out of there.

If they crash in carparks, then of course they will get hurt on the road.

Don't get me started about cyclists. I have a friend who professionally cycles in events etc, but even he says when he's driving his car, cyclists annoy him.

[Calaber]

I love the way the younger members of this forum want every "old driver/rider/fart" off the road. Obviously, they are never going to age themselves.

Think of it this way.

By the time you get to their age, electric power will be all that's left for everybody. You'll probably have been driving around in electric cars for years before you retire.

I will, however, concede, that many elderly people lack the necessary senses to be within coo-ee of traffic, often to their eternal detriment.

[DAKSTER]

Whilst I agree that many people shouldnt be allowed on the road, old and young alike...

Who says it was the 'old farts' fault? How do you know he wasnt crossing the road and some kid in a VL came around the corner doing a 'fully sik drift bro!' and find the poor old bugger crossing the intersection he was killed at? Do you propose to build overhead bridges at every intersection? How does he get across the intersection without contacting the road?

All it takes is common sense from both sides, sadly often lacking from both sides. Certainly cant be compared with cyclists riding 4 abreast on a traffic lane flipping the bird at those who pay rego to use the road they are illegally travelling on.

[VRCALAISS]

Whilst I agree that many people shouldnt be allowed on the road, old and young alike...

Who says it was the 'old farts' fault? How do you know he wasnt crossing the road and some kid in a FULLY SICK VL TURBO BRAH came around the corner doing a 'fully sik drift bro!' and find the poor old bugger crossing the intersection he was killed at? Do you propose to build overhead bridges at every intersection? How does he get across the intersection without contacting the road?

All it takes is common sense from both sides, sadly often lacking from both sides. Certainly cant be compared with cyclists riding 4 abreast on a traffic lane flipping the bird at those who pay rego to use the road they are illegally travelling on.

edited lol

[DAKSTER]

Heres the intersection he was killed on. Speed bumps, bike lanes, the lot. Who says the 'old fart' did anything wrong? Look at this intersection and tell me who is most likely to cause an accident, a scooter rider or a car who is going too fast or not watching the road?

[ClairBear]

flipping the bird at those who pay rego to use the road they are illegally travelling on.

Firstly please link to the law that shows it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the road, otherwise stop making stuff up.

Secondly did it occur to you that some of those people (me included) pay registration for one or more cars besides owning a cycle?

[VRCALAISS]

Heres the intersection he was killed on. Speed bumps, bike lanes, the lot. Who says the 'old fart' did anything wrong? Look at this intersection and tell me who is most likely to cause an accident, a scooter rider or a car who is going too fast or not watching the road?

what we will do here is blame it on the intersection call it "federally funded black spot" so one road user can use it as an excuse when they're at fault after an accident,but don't want to admit to it after it being accident free for the last 10yrs.

[VRCALAISS]

those annoying cyclist are like herpes of the road.

[DAKSTER]

Whilst I agree that many people shouldnt be allowed on the road, old and young alike...

Who says it was the 'old farts' fault? How do you know he wasnt crossing the road and some kid in a VL came around the corner doing a 'fully sik drift bro!' and find the poor old bugger crossing the intersection he was killed at? Do you propose to build overhead bridges at every intersection? How does he get across the intersection without contacting the road?

All it takes is common sense from both sides, sadly often lacking from both sides. Certainly cant be compared with cyclists riding 4 abreast on a traffic lane flipping the bird at those who pay rego to use the road they are illegally travelling on.

Firstly please link to the law that shows it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the road, otherwise stop making stuff up.

Secondly did it occur to you that some of those people (me included) pay registration for one or more cars besides owning a cycle?

Firstly..No Problem.See below.

Secondly.. Yes I accept that you pay rego for EACH car you own. So.. is the bike a car or not?


Bicycle road rules (Department of Transport and Main Roads)


Keeping left and overtaking (s129, s131, s141, s151)
Overtaking

You must:

ride as near as is safely possible to the far left side of the road — on a multi-lane road or a road with two or more lines of traffic travelling in the same direction as you, you can occupy a lane and travel in the right hand lane when necessary (for example, to make a right turn)
ride to the left of any oncoming vehicle
not overtake another vehicle on the left if that vehicle is turning left and giving a left change of direction signal
not ride more than two abreast unless overtaking
ride within 1.5 m of the other rider if riding two abreast.

Bicycles can overtake to the left of a vehicle unless:

the vehicle is signalling to turn left
it is unsafe to do so.

A cyclist must give way to a vehicle that is signalling to turn left and driving in front of the cyclist.

Riding in a bicycle lane on a road (s247)

You should:

always use a bicycle lane where provided, unless it is impracticable to do so
never ride in a bicycle lane on the wrong side of the road (travelling towards oncoming traffic).

If you check out the rest of the rules, you will also see there are guidelines for the use of footpaths too. The bottom line is, of course there are places where you cannot avoid using the road, and on those occasions its legal.. but NOT 4 abreast as I stated. For those places where there is an alternative to using a car lane, the law requires that you use them.

[ClairBear]

Secondly.. Yes I accept that you pay rego for EACH car you own. So.. is the bike a car or not?

Point being I pay a fair amount in rego each year so therefore I can justify a few trips on my bike. I don't cause wear and tear on the road surface, indeed it's only short stints to get to the bike tracks. Why stop at bikes? Skate boards and scooters are quite popular these days and I often see kids/youths using them on the roads as well as foot paths. Then of course we have the issue of gophers, they don't pay road tax either either. What about horses, the Police in the city use them to patrol the city streets - where do we stop? Why just focus on bicycles? Let's get really stupid and hit pedestrians for a portion and they walk on roads at times.....

My apologies regarding your quote about riding 4 abreast, I initially read it you meant cycling was illegal. I do agree with you that cyclists riding more than two abreast are arrogant, especially mamil's (middle aged men in lycra). I just go up behind them and hit the horn, it causes confusion and they get all wobbly as they are not sure if you will hit them and are busy looking back to see if you will.

[Astranomical]

Heres the intersection he was killed on. Speed bumps, bike lanes, the lot. Who says the 'old fart' did anything wrong? Look at this intersection and tell me who is most likely to cause an accident, a scooter rider or a car who is going too fast or not watching the road?

I can't see what the problem is - you're supposed to slow down for speed bumps, and for pedestrian crossings, etc anyway. Not to mention that common sense (i know, not exactly common these days) dictates that when you're coming up to a bicycle or pedestrian crossing, that you should always look around and see if anyone is going to come onto the crossing. The fact is, mobility scooters, and their drivers, with their slow speed, lack of good judgement, and their stupid antics such as driving on the wrong side of the road, just don't belong on the road.

[DAKSTER]

Point being I pay a fair amount in rego each year so therefore I can justify a few trips on my bike. I don't cause wear and tear on the road surface, indeed it's only short stints to get to the bike tracks. Why stop at bikes? Skate boards and scooters are quite popular these days and I often see kids/youths using them on the roads as well as foot paths. Then of course we have the issue of gophers, they don't pay road tax either either. What about horses, the Police in the city use them to patrol the city streets - where do we stop? Why just focus on bicycles? Let's get really stupid and hit pedestrians for a portion and they walk on roads at times.....

My apologies regarding your quote about riding 4 abreast, I initially read it you meant cycling was illegal. I do agree with you that cyclists riding more than two abreast are arrogant, especially mamil's (middle aged men in lycra). I just go up behind them and hit the horn, it causes confusion and they get all wobbly as they are not sure if you will hit them and are busy looking back to see if you will.

You will get no argument with me regarding skateboards, scooters, and mobility scooters alike. All of the rules that I have just quoted for bikes apply equally to them.

As far as rego goes, yes you may contribute via your cars. Many of those cyclists have chosen a bicycle instead of a car. A good lifestyle choice, no doubt, but many of them dont use or own a car at all. I have no objection to people going through life on public transport and bicycles, but they arent paying for the road they are obstructing. You may be.. many arent.

This was never intended to be a tirade against bikes.. though you have hit the nail on the head with 'MAMILS' - great term BTW I plan to use it now

I joined this thread in response to this.. nowhere in the news does it even say the old bugger was on the road. At that intersection there are several safe and legal ways for him to get across the side street, and none provided for him to cross the arterial street. It appears to be a relatively quiet road, its certainly no major thoroughfare, and you could reasonably assume traffic should be slow enough for him to cross either road, and certainly slow enough for them to at least see him and slow down.

To say its his fault he died, and that all mobility scooters are a menace and shouldnt be allowed on the road, is just plain ignorant. Especially when he says cyclists are just fine.

Man dies after Queensland scooter crash | News.com.au

I really do wish that elderly people would realise that while YES, a mobility scooter is a wheeled vehicle with a motor, just like a car, it is nota car, and belongs on the footpath, not the road. I've lost count of how many times I've had near-misses with old farts on scooters both as a motorist and as a pedestrian. As much as most of us hate cyclists (I don't and always give them plenty of room when going around them), at least they a) belong on the road, and b) don't cause as much trouble as old farts on scooters.

Firstly, a scooter is NOT a car and therefore doesnt belong on the road.. and then a bicycle (ummm NOT a car..) at least belongs on the road. Why?

Secondly, to say scooters cause more trouble on the road than MAMILS (love it lol) is just a crock of the proverbial.

Thirdly, I think you will find that many young farts also ride mobility scooters, disability applies to all ages. Those young farts, more so than many of the older ones, often have no respect at all for other road users.

[Tim Smtih]

And here we are yet again.

[vicarious]

whose to say the old boy was on the road as it doesnt say it on the OP website, by the looks of the intersection he could of been using the footpath and got hit and the driver couldn't see him due to the useless brick pot plants either side

[gopher]

I really do wish that elderly people would realise that while YES, a mobility scooter is a wheeled vehicle with a motor, just like a car, it is not a car, and belongs on the footpath, not the road. I've lost count of how many times I've had near-misses with old farts on scooters both as a motorist and as a pedestrian. As much as most of us hate cyclists (I don't and always give them plenty of room when going around them), at least they a) belong on the road, and b) don't cause as much trouble as old farts on scooters.

so seeing how you are an expert. which way was this guy travelling?
it doesn't say in the story but for all we know he may have been crossing from one footpath to the other at what should be a slow point for cars.

i've never had a near miss with a scooter.
perhaps you're the one that needs to learn how to drive

[DAKSTER]

I can't see what the problem is - you're supposed to slow down for speed bumps, and for pedestrian crossings, etc anyway. Not to mention that common sense (i know, not exactly common these days) dictates that when you're coming up to a bicycle or pedestrian crossing, that you should always look around and see if anyone is going to come onto the crossing. The fact is, P-PLATERS, with their HIGH speed, lack of good judgement, and their stupid antics such as driving on the wrong side of the road, just don't belong on the road.

Makes it look different huh? Of course its not true.. just a generalisation.. just like your original statement was.

I come close to cyclists every day, as they disregard road rules, weave in and out of traffic, run red lights, etc. These people are the exception I hasten to add, not the norm, and are probably mostly MAMILS...
I cant remember the last time I nearly hit a scooter... hmmm in fact I cant remember ANY time I have ever nearly hit a scooter.

If you admit that commonsense (and the law incidentally) dictates that you should be travelling slowly at this intersection, obviously someone didnt have any. The scooter driver certainly wasnt speeding, and if the car he was involved in the accident with was behaving correctly, that would give them a combined total of maybe 15kmh (assuming they hit head on). Not usually enough to cause a fatality?

OK, fatalities can happen at any speed, especially when the dead guy is 82. But even if the old bugger went across the road at max speed, any car which was travelling at an appropriate speed would have seen him and stopped. So, its the car thats at fault, no matter which way you look at it. Weird that you have agreed with all this, then added at the end that its the fault of the old fart. How?

[doctor who]

Secondly did it occur to you that some of those people (me included) pay registration for one or more cars besides owning a cycle?

So what are you saying, that if you pay registration for one vehicle then you dont need to pay it for any other vehicle you own? I own 2 cars and a motorbike and ALL are registered and insured, so why should you be able to ride on a road on an unregistered and uninsured vehicle?

[Rusty]

Why stop at bikes? Skate boards and scooters are quite popular these days and I often see kids/youths using them on the roads as well as foot paths. Why just focus on bicycles? Let's get really stupid and hit pedestrians for a portion and they walk on roads at times....

Pretty sure all of that is illegal, in QLD anyway. Skateboarders shouldn't be on the street nor should scooters (kids scooters, not vespa's etc). Even pedestrians in QLD can get fined for jaywalking.

[ClairBear]

Pretty sure all of that is illegal, in QLD anyway. Skateboarders shouldn't be on the street nor should scooters (kids scooters, not vespa's etc). Even pedestrians in QLD can get fined for jaywalking.

Same here, I was actually being funny. On the matter of jay walking here in SA they have had a few blitzes lately in the city fining people $108 for jay walking.

So what are you saying, that if you pay registration for one vehicle then you dont need to pay it for any other vehicle you own?

No you read it wrong. Like you I have more than one vehicle I register, one is barely used yet I keep it up-to-date so the point is why shouldn't I use my bike once in a while seeing I contribute more than once to the coffers each year. Not like my bike is destroying the road surface