All Segways recalled

AP ^ | 9/26/2003

[presidio9]

The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to recall the motorized scooters because riders have been injured falling off when its batteries are low. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Friday, saying that three people had been injured. One suffered a head wound and needed stitches.

[Constitution Day]

They're dangerous when batteries are low?
What a surprise!

When I saw the headline, I thought they were recalled due to Extreme Dorkiness.

[yonif]

I thought the segway was very promising. I must ask why are people so stupid to be driving this around when the batteries are low?

[N. Theknow]

One suffered a head wound and needed stitches.

The Anti-Christ was riding a Segway?

[rftc]

Ask 'Big Time' living at the Naval Observatory who rides it to work!

[r9etb]

The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to recall the motorized scooters because riders have been injured falling off when its batteries are low.

Holy cow -- one must conclude that the Brilliant Dean Kamen apparently couldn't be troubled to do a simple failure modes and effects analysis. (See any Systems Engineering 101 class for details.)

Oh, well, he was probably too busy replanning the urban landscape and it just splipped his mind, I guess.

Seems to me that I recall from way back when this thing first came out, that some FReeper or other asked the obvious question: "What happens when you're running along at top speed and your power fails?"

I guess we know the answer now....

[CFW]

can I still drive my segeway down to Florida thes winter?

Yes. Just remember to keep the batteries charged. Oh, and watch out for those semi's on the interstate. Smack into one of them and you'd be like a bug on the windshield.

[joesnuffy]

Hopefully Prez Bush sold his before the recall

[rftc]

'Neither rain, sleet nor low batteries shall deter them from their appointed rounds..'

[OldFriend]

This was hyped to the skies. It never seemed either practical or even fun.

[Agnes Heep]

It's just like airplanes, which have a tendency to crash when out of fuel.

[discostu]

Is there any way to tell if the batteries are low?

I predicted this thing would fail miserably. Feels good to be right.

[Willie Green]

Contributed previously by spodefly:

[bray]

Segway Recalled

First Greyout Davis now Segway?

Pray for GW and the Truth

[yonif]

I believe there is one on the LCD. Just like you have an indicator on a cellphone.

Would you use a cellphone if the batteries were about to run out? Of course not.

This is individual responsibility which the company is not responsible for. The Segway is a great invention.

[Willie Green]

Contributed by spodefly:

[CheneyChick]

Maybe this product isn't the ideal, however, the technology breakthrough is the big news.

[presidio9]

Hillary Clinton just issued a statement blaming President Bush for the recall

[CheneyChick]

Ha ha ha. I love it.

[Petronski]

No real need for a spare battery. Simply prevent motion when battery power was within 30 minutes of failure.