If you've spent any time in the UK, you will know that the country falls apart at the slightest hint of inclement weather, be it ice, a storm, or the wrong kind of leaves.
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That well-known fact didn't stop one bright spark from trying his luck as Storm Darragh swept the country over the weekend. Multiple sources caught our daredevil riding an electric scooter down the Aston Expressway near Birmingham.
I'd give the guy some credit if he wore a high-visibility jacket, but that's too much to ask. In fact, the rider wore the darkest clothes they could find in an all-black ensemble, including a trench coat and balaclava. A helmet isn't required for a vehicle that can only go 10-15MPH, but I'd certainly want one on a motorway!
The Scooter is white and does have lights, but the incident occurred during twilight, and visibility is already poor thanks to the spray off the road.
The Storm Put The UK On Red Alert
Storm Darragh was so severe it prompted a MET office response. The MET office is a government agency responsible for public weather information, including country-wide warnings.
Some areas had a Yellow alert for weather, while others had a rare Red alert. The severe storm caused property damage across the country and forced some public transport services to shut down.
The Aston Expressway is a busy road with a 50MPH speed limit. Most road users weren't keen to drive at that speed when the storm was in full force, but it's a ridiculous place for an underpowered scooter to be, regardless of the circumstances.
According to the Sun, one local said, "It's not the brightest idea, but to do it during that storm is brain-dead moronic. Must have a death wish." Birmingham World also notes that this incident happened on the same day a man died in Birmingham when a tree toppled and landed on his car.
For the record, a scooter hiring scheme is available in Birmingham. The scooters are underpowered and not permitted on any motorways.
As far as we know, our masked rider's antics didn't result in injury or any criminal charges.
