ECV Ran Over Little Boy Thursday Night at Epcot

[rszdtrvl]

Of course you can't ban outside scooters.

I'd be willing to bet that those that OWN their own scooter know pretty well how to use them. It's those that RENT them that are the biggest issue. Why don't they have a 30 minute training class or proficiency course before you are allowed to rent?

I am sure that they don't have a class because how would they deny someone the use of them. I mean, really? "Sorry Mrs. Smith, you can't navigate this scooter, so we can't let you use it.." I can see that making the news.

I do not agree with the amount of scooters I see out there. I think they are ridiculous.

In the 80's they were not all over the place. Even in the early 90's. If people had issues walking they used a cane or a wheelchair. And they (gasp!) wheeled themselves. Now, I can drive a mile and see at least a few of them. Anybody can get one, and for any reason. You don't need a doctors prescription to get one.

 

[C.Ann]

We saw the same thing - can't remember if it was 20006 or 2007.. It was a little girl - in the World Showcase area.. The screaming was horrible - and there was quite a bit of blood - so it was probably more than a scrape.. Her leg looked as though it was tangled in something underneath.. Awful..

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Can I just say the parts I bolded don't make sense. If he was IN FRONT of his mom and the ECV hit him from behind, then his mom should have gotten hit.

I feel sorry for the boy & the ECV driver. I think a one time 'qualification' class to ensure ECV drivers know how to operate their chairs isn't too much to ask. The 'check' can be done once a year and be set up outside each theme park. Just a thought.

No the driver was at he 1st table then pulled a sharp left and caught the boy.
The Mom was at the table having her bag inspected. the boy was in front of her but not facing the same way. The ECV driver came from behind him.

 

[sam_gordon]

I am sure that they don't have a class because how would they deny someone the use of them. I mean, really? "Sorry Mrs. Smith, you can't navigate this scooter, so we can't let you use it.." I can see that making the news.

Why not? We do it with cars now.

No the driver was at he 1st table then pulled a sharp left and caught the boy.
The Mom was at the table having her bag inspected. the boy was in front of her but not facing the same way. The ECV driver came from behind him.

Thank you for clearing that up.

 

[zstyles]

Guess his parents should have been watching him a little better...

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I was run over by an ECV about 3 years ago. I was stationary, waiting in a line, holding my 9 month old DD. The ECV approached from the side and rammed into me. I dropped to my knees, still holding my DD, and my shoe was caught under the ECV. The rider kept shouting at me to move, move, get out of the way, as she kept accelerating, ramming into me over and over again. My foot was caught, I could not move at all. My friend was a little bit away when this happened, and pushed her way through the crowd that ended up forming around us to take my DD out of my arms. Other guests were yelling at the woman to stop accelerating, and one tried to move her hands from the controls, but she kept shouting at everyone to get out of her way. Once my arms were free, I somehow managed to lift up the front of the ECV and free my foot - and the woman was yelling at me - "what are you doing to me?? stop it!!" I got out of the way and she yelled that I nearly killed her and zipped off. So yeah, there are definitely bad eggs out there driving ECVs.

That being said, my dad cannot walk and uses a wheelchair or ECV (I have pushed him in a wheelchair through WDW at 5 months pregnant while wearing my 2 year old on my back). From growing up around someone who uses a wheelchair, I learned to always give wheelchairs "right of way." Wheelchairs and ECVs are heavier and cannot stop as quickly as a person walking. If you stop immediately in front of a wheeled vehicle or suddenly change directions, you might get hit, and it won't be because the person in the wheelchair or ECV or stroller for that matter is rude and doesn't know what they are doing.

I push a double stroller through WDW. I cannot tell you the number of people that will step around and in front of me and make it impossible for me to advance forward. I find a gap and take it, and if someone steps out in front of me and I hit them, I will apologize profusely, but hey, you shouldn't have stepped out in front of me.

Pedestrians, parents pushing strollers, and riders in wheelchairs and ECVs need to ALL be aware of their surroundings in the crowded circumstances of WDW and be smart about it! Be aware, be polite.

 

[maxiesmom]

So, if you are that worried about being run over by an ECV, stay home. After all, you (and your children) don't NEED to go to WDW.

Yes, I'm being facetious, but your suggestion is just as impossible.

How about being aware that you are sharing the parks with other people, some of who are not walking? Surely everyone knows there are people in the parks who will be pushing stroller or using scooters. If you can't deal with sharing the park with those vehicals, then yes, you should stay home.

All it took was having my sister be in a wheelchair for 2 days at WDW to see how difficult it is, and how people like to cut you off. It is almost some sort of demented game--lets see if I can run in front of this person without getting hit.

Of course people who use ECVs need to be careful. But so do the park pedestrians.

 

[C.Ann]

I was run over by an ECV about 3 years ago. I was stationary, waiting in a line, holding my 9 month old DD. The ECV approached from the side and rammed into me. I dropped to my knees, still holding my DD, and my shoe was caught under the ECV. The rider kept shouting at me to move, move, get out of the way, as she kept accelerating, ramming into me over and over again. My foot was caught, I could not move at all. My friend was a little bit away when this happened, and pushed her way through the crowd that ended up forming around us to take my DD out of my arms. Other guests were yelling at the woman to stop accelerating, and one tried to move her hands from the controls, but she kept shouting at everyone to get out of her way. Once my arms were free, I somehow managed to lift up the front of the ECV and free my foot - and the woman was yelling at me - "what are you doing to me?? stop it!!" I got out of the way and she yelled that I nearly killed her and zipped off. So yeah, there are definitely bad eggs out there driving ECVs.

That is horrible!!!!!

 

[happygirl]

Poor baby, I hope he will be okay I think the blame equals lies between the drive and the child and his parents. I don't think the weight of the driver of the ECV has anything to do with anything

 

[C.Ann]

I think there should be seperate, roped off lanes for ECV's only, like a bike lane.This would solve the problem for both groups.

I was thinking the same thing, but I'm not sure if the parks are set up in such a way that this would be workable..

 

[SaraJayne]

Guess his parents should have been watching him a little better...

He was right next to his mother, in the bag check line. Without physically carrying him, I don't know HOW he could have been any closer to his parents.

OP, I hope someone who knows what happened will pop in and update.

That poor little boy. The ECV's really are becoming a safety hazard at Disney, and a liability for Disney.

 

[Nette]

So here is a thought:

In order to rent an ECV, you need to have a dr's prescription or a disability card or placard for your car. Then the people who need them can get them and the others won't. (I'm sure the rental company would hate this as it would stifle their business)

And as far as ADA goes, I believe they only have to make the facilities handicap accessible, they do not have to allow ECVs.

 

[jrmasm]

When my son was 7, he was hit and knocked down by an ECV in Animal Kingdom. He was ok, just has a skinned knee. Yes, my 7 year old ran into the path of the EVC. It's a shame, but you have to hold small children by the hand because of the vehicles that are allowed drive among walking people.

I have also had my toes smashed when an EVC in front of me at a parade started to back out. VERY painful.

I have never posted in an EVC thread before because of the controversy, but I'll risk it now to say I wish EVCs would be BANNED in WDW.

And if the EVC drivers feel terrible, they SHOULD. Feeling terrible will not solve the problem.

They are dangerous. Only wheelchairs should be allowed. Heavy moving vehicles should NOT be allowed to drive among people walking, where there are children running and being children but have to be told to be careful because a 300 lb electric moving vehicle may be coming by.

Wheelchairs only!

And did y'all hear about the guy who suing WDW for not being allowed to use a segway in WDW, claiming he needed it for medical reasons?

I've held my tongue for all these years about EVCs and I can't take it anymore. The CM who came to our aid when my son was hit only shrugged and apologized, knowing he was powerless to get rid of this EVC problem that the CMs have to deal with on a daily basis. Ask any CM, they'll tell you how many people every day get hit by EVCs.

You don't have to run in front of an idiot to be hit by an ECV, I've been standing for a parade and had some moron on one knock me over.

It is sad but the only way to eliminate this problem is for people that get hit by them to sue the rear end off the person that rented it to the idiot driving it. I'm willing to bet that most of the time people get nailed by them it isn't by grand pa and grand ma that use it every day, I'm willing to bet most are tagged by someone that never used one before.

And yes I know there are plenty that will claim that someone that needs a wheel chair can't be expected to use a wheel chair at Disney, but I only ask how does that person get around when they go to the mall or airport? If they use a wheel chair then clearly a ECV isn't a requirement it might make things easier but then how many kids need to get their angles broken so someone in a wheel chair can play mario kart.

I was addressing the poster that wants EVCs banned because her kid wasn't watching where he was going and ran the path of a EVC.

 

[Aisling]

I was addressing the poster that wants EVCs banned because her kid wasn't watching where he was going and ran the path of a ECV.

You're right. After that incident, I watched my son more carefully. At the time, I had NO idea I'd have to watch out for heavy moving vehicles driving among the people in WDW while my son running to get an ice cream. I know better now.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Poor baby, I hope he will be okay I think the blame equals lies between the drive and the child and his parents. I don't think the weight of the driver of the ECV has anything to do with anything

According to the OP, the boy was standing next to his mother while she was at the bag check having her bag searched. Do you really believe that the mom is EQUALLY at fault with the out-of-control ECV driver who hit a stationary child?? Sorry, but that is just insane.

As for the weight of the driver, being trapped beneath a 300 lb. scooter with a 100 lb. woman on it is bad enough. However, being trapped beneath a 300 lb. scooter with a 300 lb. woman on it would probably do significantly more damage to a child's legs.

 

[Mermaid02]

According to the OP, the boy was standing next to his mother while she was at the bag check having her bag searched. Do you really believe that the mom is EQUALLY at fault with the out-of-control ECV driver who hit a stationary child?? Sorry, but that is just insane.

As for the weight of the driver, being trapped beneath a 300 lb. scooter with a 100 lb. woman on it is bad enough. However, being trapped beneath a 300 lb. scooter with a 300 lb. woman on it would probably do significantly more damage to a child's legs.

Right, doesn't matter where the weight comes from, it's still WEIGHT.

 

[akhenaten]

I am sure that they don't have a class because how would they deny someone the use of them. I mean, really? "Sorry Mrs. Smith, you can't navigate this scooter, so we can't let you use it.." I can see that making the news.

I do not agree with the amount of scooters I see out there. I think they are ridiculous.

In the 80's they were not all over the place. Even in the early 90's. If people had issues walking they used a cane or a wheelchair. And they (gasp!) wheeled themselves. Now, I can drive a mile and see at least a few of them. Anybody can get one, and for any reason. You don't need a doctors prescription to get one.

Or they did not get to go and enjoy Disney with their families...

Did you ever consider that the technology, availability and affordability of these scooters have allowed people who would otherwise stay home or at the hotel to enjoy/be able to tour the parks with their families???

 

[DeluxePrincess]

If you can't walk, use a wheelchair, which is SAFE. Don't put people in possible harm's way with an ECV.

Trust me, wheelchairs can be just as dangerous. My family was almost mowed down by a "runaway" wheelchair coming down that steep hill outside the Land Pavilion. An elderly gentlemen started rolling down the hill quickly and didn't know how to slow it down. He probably would have crashed if it weren't for DH jumping after him to catch the handlebars. I think EVERYONE just needs to be more careful and aware of their surroundings.

 

[Aisling]

An elderly gentlemen started rolling down the hill quickly and didn't know how to slow it down. He probably would have crashed if it weren't for DH jumping after him to catch the handlebars.

 

[crashbb]

So here is a thought:

In order to rent an ECV, you need to have a dr's prescription or a disability card or placard for your car. Then the people who need them can get them and the others won't. (I'm sure the rental company would hate this as it would stifle their business)

And as far as ADA goes, I believe they only have to make the facilities handicap accessible, they do not have to allow ECVs.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that that would violate the ADA.

The general gist of the ADA (as it pertains to this) is that modifications must be made to allow someone with a disability to enjoy the park (or whatever) in an equal way to someone without a disability AND that the park (or whatever) cannot ask for proof of said disability.

So, if someone cannot walk (or says that they cannot walk), an ECV would be the appropriate modification and WDW cannot ask for proof of need.

Nor can they force people to take a test to use the ECV (though I do agree that it would help reduce accidents). The analogy to driving a car (and needing a test for it) fails because everyone needs to take a test to drive a car. Only ECV drivers would need to take a test to enter WDW, since they cannot enter without an ECV (or, rather, would not be able to do anything at WDW without an ECV) and would be forced to take the test to use an ECV.