The estimated USA e-scooter injury data makes interesting reading Peter rising exponentially from 1.53 injuries per 100,000 in 2014 to 9.22 per 100,000 of the population in 2019. It clearly calls for the wearing of helmets to be made compulsory (if only for personal insurance purposes) to reduce the number of head injuries. It has been compulsory for all motor cyclists to wear an approved helmet in the UK for many years. My own Father was hospitalised and in a coma for over 7 days after having an accident on his 98 cc James Motorcycle back in the late 1930's - he was only wearing a leather style of helmet, nothing like the later patented 'Everoak' cork lined hemispherical 'skid lids' that were common in the 50's and 60's.


When I was a child/teenager, he owned a second hand, light green/cream NSU Prima Scooter (based on the Italian Lambretta design - as you observe) for a while after running a series of Norton motorcycle and sidecar outfits for commuting to work and for family outings. He said he was lucky to survive this - his one and only serious motorcycle accident. His final motorcycle was a BSA Shooting Star - a powerful 500 cc twin which he could barely kick start, despite weighing nearly 15 stones, even standing on the kick starter, as it had a high compression engine with no 'decompression' valve. I remember standing up on the pillion footrests on one occasion, just to see how fast we were going and I received a severe scolding from his as we were doing 85 mph.


I share your concern about ensuring adequate 'crash safety' for all possible 'alternative' replacements for the current ‘heavy’ motor car and it is heartening to see that the wearing of safety helmets by those riding 'push bikes' and e-bikes is becoming common now in the UK. It is also encouraging to see that companies developing lightweight alternatives, such as the Canyon, assisted pedal car you highlighted, are giving careful consideration to making them as safe as possible for use on our roads. This evening, the BBC featured an IRIS electrically assisted tricycle pedal car, with its body made from a modern, light but strong 'plastic foam' material and it featured a top speed of 30 mph and a fully streamlined clear plastic canopy. Here is a link to a preview of Grant Sinclair’s website:

https://www.grantsinclair.com/en/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJeXZD7MCCY

I think you will agree that the IRIS Trike certainly looks like a worthy replacement for the original Sinclair C5, designed by his Uncle, Sir Clive Sinclair !

Peter Brooks:

Good morning:

I would like to ask a question which indirectly deals with the current COVID-19 pandemic.


I have just finished a COVID-19 Guardian podcast which discussed the need for getting a Flu shot in the UK.

.

Here in the US only about 40 % of the total population get the annual flu shot. The percentage is higher for people over 65 years. 

There are two versions of the  flu vaccine- a "basic" version and a "high dose" version specifically for people over 65. 

Yesterday I got my high dose version made by Sanofi-Pasteur called Fluzone Quad. 


What is the situation in the UK?


Peter Brooks MIET

Palm Bay Florida USA  




 

A bit shambolic, as usual.  People are still avoiding going to see their doctors.  I only discovered that my GP is already making appointments for flu jabs when I looked on their Facebook page.  No doubt, they will still be pushing people to get their vaccinations as late as January, as usual.


In the UK, it's usually only the elderly and people with specific medical conditions who are offered the vaccination for free.  But it sounds like they want to catch more people this year

Peter Brooks:

Hello Simon:


If I read you correctly you can only get flu shots at your GP. 


I get my flu shot at a local drug store (chemist like Boots). Being over 65 I get it for free and also a $5 coupon to purchase anything in the store.


How are they going to give the COVID-19 vaccine to the UK population without having additional outlets?


I hear that some of the vaccines in development require storage at -80 C. Does you GP have a storage freezer that goes down that low?


Peter Brooks MIET

Palm Bay Florida USA   

Many (but not all) pharmacies also do flu vaccinations.  I assume they have some way to determine who should get it free on the NHS and who has to pay.


I can't imagine anybody but specialist laboratories have freezers that go down to -80C.  I don't see how such a vaccine could be practical.