A visually impaired Cavan woman claims that she is ‘afraid for her life ‘every time she leaves her home as e scooters flying past on the footpath make the area ‘like a race track’
Joanne Gorman from Cavan Town who is clinically blind says
“I feel nervous every time I go out as it’s very, very dangerous. I’m genuinely afraid for my life.
It’s terrifying. I have a white cane, but they are going so fast they can’t see it. I have a pedestrian crossing two minutes from my house but it’s just a black and white crossing and somebody on an e scooter would probably just fly through it and plough into me or some other pedestrian .
It’s an absolutely treacherous situation in Cavan town. I am not exaggerating when I say it is having an awful effect on me, and my life has not been the same for the past two years as there are more and more of these e scooters.
I’ve had two incidents in recent times where I have almost been knocked down and it really shook me
I live in dread of being hit by one of those flying e scooters. It’s not fair. I should be able to go out and about in safety and free from fear of being mowed down by one of these things.
Aontú Senator Sarah O’ Reilly says
“Joanne and other pedestrians are being put in serious jeopardy by the reckless, thoughtless use of these scooters.
They can go at a shocking speed, and we know they can inflict terrible injuries and can kill.
It is illegal to ride them on footpaths, but this is being flouted with complete abandon.
People know they face little chance of being caught and fined and this is the crux of the issue .We need enforcement now before people are seriously hurt or killed ”.
