Nowadays, when driving out, whether on busy streets, overpasses, or highways, one can often see a type of car that is powered by electricity, similar in shape to a mini car, can reach speeds of 50-60 kilometers per hour, and does not have a license plate. Most of the drivers are elderly people in their sixties or seventies. This type of car is called a senior transportation vehicle, which is unlicensed, unlicensed, uninsured, and has no safety guarantee. Due to safety hazards, running red lights, wandering freely on motor vehicle lanes, occupying parking spaces, adding congestion to non motor vehicle lanes, and becoming a tool for hackers... Since its emergence, this type of vehicle has been highly questioned. So, why are there more and more doubts about these "four no" electric vehicles, and why hasn't this dangerous "naked running" been stopped?
Concerns about safety hazards
In November 2013, the media reported the first case in Taiyuan where a middle-aged man was sentenced for drunk driving of an elderly commuter car: he drove an unlicensed four-wheel electric vehicle while drunk and collided with a black Audi car traveling in the same direction on Wuyi Road, causing varying degrees of damage to both vehicles. The court held that the man violated road traffic safety regulations by driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license on a road with a large number of vehicles and pedestrians in the urban area after getting drunk, causing a traffic accident and endangering public safety. His behavior has constituted the crime of dangerous driving. This case has raised social concerns about the safety of elderly commuting vehicles. On December 15, 2014, police officers from the Fifth Brigade of the Fourth Traffic Police Detachment of Shanxi Expressway patrolled to a distance of 247 kilometers from Pinglu towards Yuncheng and discovered a mini car traveling at a "turtle speed" of less than 50 kilometers per hour on the highway, heading towards Yuncheng. The police asked the driver to park in the parking lot for inspection only to discover that it was not a small car, but an electric elderly mobility scooter. The driver is an elderly man in his late sixties, preparing to drive to Yuncheng. Because the appearance of the commuter car resembles a sedan, it evaded the inspection of the toll collector when getting on the highway, and thus got on the highway.
At around 3pm on October 8th this year, at the intersection of Fuxi Street and Jiefang Road, an elderly person in his 60s drove a senior scooter into the motor vehicle lane. During the lane change process, due to the elderly person's lack of driving skills and mental tension, they unexpectedly collided with two Passat cars, causing traffic congestion on that section of the road. The bumpers of these three cars were all damaged, fortunately no casualties were caused. Although the accident was not significant, it once again exposed the safety hazards of elderly mobility scooters.
Someone despises someone who loves
At around 7am on October 20th, near Hualian Supermarket on Fudong Street, the reporter saw an elderly person driving a red three wheeled scooter westward on the motor vehicle lane, with two boys sitting inside. It seemed that the elderly person was taking their children to school. In order to catch up with the time, this car shuttled back and forth in the traffic, then occupied the bus lane and turned towards Wuyi Road.
From 11am to 12pm on the same day, the reporter observed at the intersection of Jianshe North Road on Fudong Street that a total of 6 elderly scooters passed through the intersection within one hour. These cars are very similar to mini sedans, and their drivers are mostly middle-aged and elderly people.
Many elderly people drive recklessly on the motor vehicle lane, occupying the fast lane without giving way, making reckless U-turns, illegally parking and driving in the opposite direction, and other behaviors can often be seen. Mr. Li, a citizen, believes that many elderly people do not understand traffic regulations and drive elderly scooters on the road, which brings great pressure to motor vehicle drivers, especially since these cars are not insured. Once a traffic accident occurs, it is very troublesome to handle.
Mr. Zhang, a citizen, believes that this type of commuting vehicle is larger in size than ordinary electric bicycles, and it is not suitable to use either motorized or non motorized lanes after driving on the road. Elderly people should still take the bus when going out, as it is safer, "he said.
My son bought this car for over 20000 yuan, mainly for me to help pick up and drop off his grandson. It's also very convenient to drive this car to buy groceries and take a stroll, "Liu, who lives in Donghua Garden on Wulongkou Street, told reporters. This elderly commuting car does not require a license plate or a driver's license, and can be driven at a speed of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
This kind of car is not safe, why not buy a used microcar with the money to buy it? "The reporter asked. Getting a driver's license is expensive and laborious, and I have to endure a lot of trouble! Besides, I'm already 60 years old, and my driver's license won't last long, "Mr. Liu waved his hand and said," It's okay to drive slowly. (Wheelchair supplier, Health cushion supplier, Elderly mobility scooter manufacturer)
Fish eyes mixed with pearls are difficult to distinguish
On October 25th, the reporter visited the Shanxi Wanbo Motorcycle and Electric Vehicle Wholesale Market on Dawang Road. The reporter walked around the market and found more than ten electric vehicle dealerships. These shops are filled with various types of electric vehicles in front of their doors. These electric vehicles come in three wheeled, four-wheel, two seater, three seater, and four seater versions, and are lightweight and compact, with a very similar appearance to small cars. These storefronts
The advertisements posted all have the words' new energy electric vehicles' written on them. At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish whether these cars are electric cars or elderly mobility scooters. Salespeople prefer to refer to this type of vehicle as a low-speed electric vehicle or a new energy vehicle for elderly commuting.
In front of a relatively large storefront, there are six or seven scooters that resemble small cars in appearance. The reporter said he wanted to buy a commuter car for his elderly family, and a middle-aged man enthusiastically recommended a white three wheeled electric car, claiming that the price was only 12000 yuan. Can this car hit the road? "The reporter asked. No problem, there's no need to get a license plate. This car is very easy to operate, with only one forward gear and one reverse gear. The elderly can learn it as soon as they learn, and the speed can usually reach over 40 kilometers per hour, "said the salesperson.
Is there anything better, "the reporter asked. The salesperson enthusiastically recommended a four-wheel electric vehicle similar to the Chery QQ car, priced at 30000 yuan, which is close to a small displacement domestic sedan. The car has 4 seats, including dashboard, gear, air conditioning, sunroof, and even a reversing camera.
This type of car can also be used by young people for commuting. It can run at least 50 kilometers and up to 140 kilometers on a single charge, and has a long battery life. It can be used for seven or eight years without the need to replace the battery, "said the salesperson. Not only the elderly, but also some couriers like to buy this type of car.
The reporter then went into the car to experience it and found that the workmanship of this car was very rough, and there were no airbags or seat belts. Sitting and shaking for a moment, I felt that the car body was very light and the iron sheet was very thin. How is this car selling? "The reporter asked. The several cars at the entrance have all been reserved, and the sales are still good! "The salesperson proudly said.
