Drivers of Segways knocked people to death. How to deal with it?

The Development of modern technology has led to the inevitable emergence of new types of transport. One of them — Segways, which first flooded the entire state of California (USA), which have a special passion for everything electrical, and then literally took over the major countries of Europe and this year has seen a rapid development in Russia. But it is perhaps exactly the case, when the world was not ready to such turn of events.

Let's Start with the fact that in almost all countries there is no clear-cut legislative framework regarding electroaparataj. Therefore, their "drivers" feel with impunity, moving on highways in the left lane (well, if not in the opposite lane), dodging pedestrians and not using any safety equipment. During travels in Europe this year only in Switzerland I saw a neat driver electric skateboard — in a helmet, elbow pads and all.

In other cases, Segways lead ugly. In Paris alone the number of such vehicles has already exceeded 20 000, the situation is similar in other countries. This would not be much of a problem, but the Segways are able to travel near the speed of 35 km/h, while their "pilots" do not always have the desire to wear the same helmet, not that move at a special band. Hence, a large risk to motorists who may not notice a small object on the road, but even more — of the transitions.

how dangerous Segways

Segways can often be found on ordinary footpaths, and in fact it is all the same what to put on the sidewalks shared use cars. Drivers of scooters do not hesitate to accelerate to 20-30 km/h, feeling on the track and overtaking pedestrians one after the other. Therefore, they often become the culprits of accidents: for example, this year in Paris, the driver of the electric skateboard knocked down 81-year-old pedestrian.

In 2018, a similar incident occurred in Moscow, where the 34-year-old Muscovite knocked down a pedestrian — 88-year-old man. He ran electroseparation IceWheel S8 which weighs 18.5 kg and can reach speeds of 35 km/h For an elderly person such a collision were fatal.

In fact, cases of road accident with a lot of Segways in Europe. The media often write only about the fatalities, but in fact almost every day the drivers of these scooters make assaults on transitions.

Crash test of a motorcycle in a collision with a car at a speed of 40 km/h

How to solve the problem

Think that's the real danger of Segways only aware of their "homeland" — in California. So, in 2018, the authorities of San Francisco ordered the rental services of Segways to clean up the streets of the city. Now officials issue permits, which considers transportation authority SFMTA. The occasion was the complaints of residents who say that drivers drive fast on the sidewalks and parked in the wrong places. This measure helped to remove from the streets a little-known startups hire Segways, but the attitude of the drivers Mer yet. They don't even have to wear a helmet when driving!

In Spain after yet another fatal accident involving pedestrian and electric skateboard also thinking about settlement — the authorities want to limit the speed of vehicles to 25 km/h And to oblige drivers of scooters to undergo testing for alcohol and drugs. But the necessary legislation for this is still there.

the Drivers of the scooters in danger, too

In fact, the flying scooters is also not so safe. There are cases when an electric skateboard suddenly the owner starts to slow down (and this is at max-speed). The outcome is often sad: driver "rolls" through the scooter and falls under the nearest car.

Why is this happening? The build quality of the hotel leaves much to be desired. A rupture of the cable that connects the Hall sensor wheel motor with controller, and if it happens in motion, the scooter will perform emergency braking. Or there's a problem with the power cables that feed the electric motor. Well, and trivial damage to the wheels at high speed also has not been canceled.

And earlier this year, the American company Zimperium which specializiruetsya on mobile device security, which allowed anyone to remotely access the device. The problem is that the password is checked only mobile app, but the scooter takes commands from any device without the password. Of course, the radius remote access is not so great (about 100 meters), but enough to the owner of the scooter has received a physical injury.

do I Need legal regulation?

Obviously, without legislative drivers of scooters will continue to lawlessness on the roads. At least it is necessary to restrict their speed and movement on the sidewalks, and to compel drivers to wear protection elements, as recently implemented in the same new York city (ideally all right to give — but it is science fiction). But it's unclear when it will happen: the authorities of most cities are not yet aware how Segways (or rather, their "pilots) complicate the lives of the pedestrians and drivers of cars.

Segways get thiswidespread that this segment will eventually have to regulate. And it's not only about Russia but also about the whole world: I often during business trips in Europe are faced with irresponsible drivers of such vehicles. Even in Spain, where lots of paths for scooters, they still go on the roadway, causing accidents with cars and pedestrians. And fatal outcomes of these accidents show how this is dangerous: because scooter with driver weighs about 100 kg, and if he goes with a speed of 35 km/h and crashes into another person, the degree of danger is very high. Adjusting is necessary, but how — is not yet clear. Perhaps we should introduce an age limit or even give the right to manage electroseparation. I'm sure in the coming years we will see something similar in Europe and the United States, — says editor in chief Hi-News.ru Renat Grishin.

Similar position is held and the head of the media group i10.ru Mikhail Korolev:

Of Course, the chaos on the roads with drivers of Segways should not be, but I can't imagine how it will be regulated. Oh and don't forget that not all the troubles from the scooter — the problem is the degree of adequacy of the people who run them.

What do you think, is there a way to solve this problem? Please share your opinion in the comments and .