A 94-year-old grandmother was left with horrific injuries after an electric motorbike ploughed into her after she enjoyed lunch with a friend. Peggy Maxwell was rushed to hospital after the gran was struck by the e-bike being driven by a youth. The mother-of-four broke her neck, back, clavicle, several ribs and one ankle as a result of the smash, as well as suffering bleeding on the brain.
Incident in Lochore
She was hit by the Sur-Ron dirtbike in the Fife village of Lochore, Scotland, back in May and despite her ordeal, the pensioner is determined to change the law on the often dangerous motor vehicles after being run over by one on an afternoon out. The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was later arrested in connection with the incident with proceedings still ongoing. Peggy's family are angry, and say the bikes are regularly being driven on local roads illegally.
Campaign to change the law
Peggy is supporting a campaign to change the law by local MP Richard Baker. Concerns are rising at the number of accidents involving riders and pedestrians and the ability to trace the riders. In the UK, a legal e-bike is known as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle, meaning you do not need a licence, tax, or insurance to ride it on public roads.
Peggy is now fighting to make sure her experience is not repeated and wants the bikes off the streets for good. She told the Daily Record: "I just wanted to live out my old age quietly, but it's not happened." She is now backing a campaign by her local MP, Richard Baker, to tighten the law on the sale of dangerous e-bikes and she added: "We need to get these things off the streets. If I can do anything to help, I will. I was independent all my days and now it's been taken away from me. But I am recovering, slowly."
Recovery at home
The grandmother-of-13 had travelled by bus to Dunfermline on May 25 to meet her daughter Margaret for lunch. The incident that would upend her life happened shortly after she had made the return trip to Lochore. She is now being cared for at home by her four children June, Margaret, Graham and Eddie. June, 56, told the publication it was a "miracle" her mum was still alive but said the ordeal had robbed Peggy of her independence.
"Before the accident she was in great health," June added. "She was very independent and would take the bus on her own, she needed no help at all. She's trying her best to get around the house now but her confidence has been knocked. It's got her down because before she could do things on her own. She would tell you in the morning she was going out and that was it. Now, we've had to buy a wheelchair for when we take her outside."
E-bikes travelling above 15.5mph are treated as motorbikes, which must be registered, taxed and insured, and are seized by police if they break the law. Once an illegal e-bike has been seized, the hazardous and recyclable parts are removed and the bike is crushed down.
