On a recent visit to a very large
shopping mall, it doesn't matter which one because I'm sure my
experience is mirrored throughout the many such retail kingdoms, I
quickly became aware of a new risk to my personal physical safety
from shoppers sharing the same floor space as me.
Having driven along the roads between
the safety of my home and the vehicle free retail extravaganza; the
twisting and turning single lane country lanes bounded by high hedges
that allow only tunnel vision of the road ahead and oncoming
motorists; the multi-lane motorway, including the major motorway
interchange, with diverging and then converging lanes full of
speeding vehicles; and left my car in the free car-park I was feeling
safe and secure heading towards the pedestrian only walkways.
Within a short time of entering the
supposedly shopper friendly environment I became aware of the reality
of the level of physical danger possible from three types of
shoppers.
After only fifteen minutes I was
subjected to two side glancing strong nudges and one head-on
collision. Only the lack of approaching speed saving me from injury.
No apologies from the protagonists. Whilst not being personally
responsible as the cause for the contacts, looking back I'm annoyed
that I didn't see the potential danger coming towards me. My excuse,
if I need one, is that of my lack of experience of the mobile
telephone aficionado texting, tweeting, or internet surfing, whilst
on the move. With head down looking at the illuminated screen,
blinded by the glare from seeing the hazards ahead, the telephonist
must be assuming that other shoppers, me on this occasion, will have
to move aside for safety. The ignorance, inconsideration and rudeness
of these geeks!
Previous to this retail excursion I've
had pride in my ability to avoid the other two major dangers; the
senior
racers on their mobility scooters; parents with their crowd
breaking pushchairs; in pedestrian areas.
There are more and more untrained,
uninsured drivers sitting on their latest deluxe model electric
powered chariots; larger and speedier; driving them silently amongst
the unsuspecting walking public. Whilst not on this day, I have seen
a scooter user recklessly drive into the back of the legs of a lady
who was totally unaware of the presence of the scooter bearing down
on her from behind. They start to move, stop and change direction
without giving any warning indication to those close by. With an
increasing aged population and a growing obese, less mobile,
population the numbers driven will continue to rise. Imagine the
carnage if a fleet of mobility scooters were used as a 'rolling
roadblock' through a shopping mall.
With their latest fashion pushchairs
parents are aware of the potential of using them for
crowd breaking to obtain a clear passage. The three wheeled
triangular shaped models are ideal for this task acting like a wedge
to force a way through. Two or three of these in an arrowhead
formation heading towards a crowded path is a formidable sight and a
potential for multiple collateral damage to shins and feet of those
too slow to move out of the way.
One of the most dangerous situations is
to be in a queue for an elevator with either, or both, a mobility
scooter user, or pushchair pushing parent, directly behind you. When the doors open there is the
potential risk of ending up pinned to the rear wall of the lift by a
scooter front bumper or a pushchair wheel forced between the legs.
The thought of a mobile telephone geek
writing a text message or a tweet whilst driving a mobility scooter,
or pushing a crowd breaking pushchair, in a shopping mall and the
potential danger is beyond belief. Is it? Haven't there been car and
lorry drivers prosecuted for sending texts and tweeting on mobile
telephones whilst driving their vehicles?
