There was a report in the UK press recently about a fatal road accident involving an electric scooter and a car.

It comes as no surprise to learn that it was the scooter rider who lost the toss.

Now as you may know, I am a regular user of an electric mobility scooter. So this unfortunate event gave me food for thought.

The first thing to make clear is that the scooter that was involved in this tragic accident was not the same sort of machine as Pullyman 1.

It was one of those two wheelers that you stand on with one foot, and scoot along with the other one.

The snag is that these electric scooters can move as fast as 15 miles per hour.

Apparently they are a popular ’drive to work’ machine, because you can weave in and out of the traffic.

That should please a frustrated motorist no end.

But each to his own. These scooters aren’t all that cheap, so it’s a case of pay your money and take your chance.

Is it skill or is it bravery? I wouldn’t know, but I do think that it’s illegal.

I don’t think that we shall see a scooter driving epidemic in the island any time soon. There are already too many highway hazards to overcome with the traffic that we have now.

There is no doubt in my mind that mobility scooters are a fine invention.

It would be a sad day for many folk if they were not allowed on our roads.

There are rules and regulations to be observed but, with a bit of thought and some common sense, I see no reason to restrict their use.

For one thing, there are speed limits to be obeyed.

If the scooter is being used on the pavement or in a pedestrianised area, they are restricted to four miles per hour.

If they are on a roadway, the maximum speed allowed is eight.

No driving license is needed, but it makes absolute sense that normal traffic regulations should be followed at all times, such as traffic lights and one way streets.

Always use your lights and indicators, and always use your mirrors.

It’s surprising how fast a cyclist can catch you up and how dangerous it is to suddenly change your direction without warning. I saw something the other day that was so dangerous, it was absolutely brilliant to watch. It just made me want to have a go.

I had been to Douglas on Pullyman1 and I was on my way back to Onchan.

I’d just crossed over from the Promenade walkway to the tram-lines side of the Port Jack Road, and was past the tram sheds when this thing came flying down the hill.

It was a skateboard, but this was a skateboard with attitude. In the wrong hands, it would be a lethal weapon.

The young pilot was travelling downhill from Onchan in the direction of Douglas, and he was flying!

The road was a wise choice. If he had been on the pavement, imagine the damage that he would do if he shot past an unwary pedestrian who was miles away from reality in his personal trance of music and head phones?

Now the speed limit on this stretch of road is 30 miles per hour and, at a rough estimate, the skate missile must have been doing a good 50.

What was a bit worrying was the fact that I was jealous. I wanted to have a go.

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you are skiing down a long steep slope, swooping round fast flowing bends and feeling in perfect harmony with all the elements?

Well that is how I felt when I saw this skateboard floating down Port Jack Hill.

Dream on. I’m not a 20-year-old hero without a care in the world. I’m a 79 year old with Parkinson’s Disease, and I have difficulties with balance and co-ordination.

I wish that young man all the best in his world. I know how he feels. I’ve had my turn.

A decade ago Pullyman - aka Michael Cowin - was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, a condition that affects people in different ways. Michael discovered writing and Island Life is featuring some of his musings. Sometimes topical, sometimes nostalgic, read about life as seen through the eyes of Pullyman