Person tripped over my outside cable cover whilst charging car...

joeythepoey

MeteredOut said:

What is the burden of proof on the accuser to show that it was the charging cable that cause their injuries?

(Similar to crash-for-cash, I've heard an increasing number of anecdotes of people going looking for charging cables over public highways).

@joeythepoey What did this person specifically ask for when they came to the door? Did they want something then, did they want insurance details? Did anyone say anything to them that might have admitted liability? Were they saying they were going legal? Have they (or anyone acting on their behalf) been in contact since?  

We unfortunately suffered a bereavement (my wife's mother just died), I was out of the country when it happened and she answered the door. The person that got injured said they would be back later as they understood it was a difficult time. It only happened at the start of the week.

joeythepoey

MeteredOut said:

joeythepoey said:

elsien said:

OP hasn’t said how they know that people tripping over the cable are “locked onto” their phones so it may well be just a presumption. And potentially an inaccurate one.

An unexpected cable cover across the pavement with no street lighting doesn’t need someone to be looking at their phone to be tripped over

I've seen it happen from my front room window at several occasions during the day - and people were always on their phone. 

I appreciate it's harder to see at night, hence putting in the lights. It's pretty impossible to miss during the day.

There are 3 other people charging their cars in my street in the same way (I actually got the link off one of them for the cable covers) - that doesn't mean I feel justified or anything, but it seems rising electricity costs are part of the problem. 

I can't see how a bay being marked as EV or not has any bearing on things.

 Did the victim offer any proof that it was your cable cover that caused his injuries? What did he actually want when he came to your door?

I was simply pointing out that even with an EV charging bay being marked 'EV Only', it appears most regular car owners don't give a hoot and park in them anyway, which mean we often can't even charge on one of the lampposts in our street even if we wanted to.

We're based in Brighton.

I wasn't there, but from what my wife told me they didn't offer any actual proof. I'm not sure if he was just there make a complaint or something more.

Section62

joeythepoey said:

MeteredOut said:

joeythepoey said:

elsien said:

OP hasn’t said how they know that people tripping over the cable are “locked onto” their phones so it may well be just a presumption. And potentially an inaccurate one.

An unexpected cable cover across the pavement with no street lighting doesn’t need someone to be looking at their phone to be tripped over

I've seen it happen from my front room window at several occasions during the day - and people were always on their phone. 

I appreciate it's harder to see at night, hence putting in the lights. It's pretty impossible to miss during the day.

There are 3 other people charging their cars in my street in the same way (I actually got the link off one of them for the cable covers) - that doesn't mean I feel justified or anything, but it seems rising electricity costs are part of the problem. 

I can't see how a bay being marked as EV or not has any bearing on things.

 Did the victim offer any proof that it was your cable cover that caused his injuries? What did he actually want when he came to your door?

I was simply pointing out that even with an EV charging bay being marked 'EV Only', it appears most regular car owners don't give a hoot and park in them anyway, which mean we often can't even charge on one of the lampposts in our street even if we wanted to.

We're based in Brighton.

I wasn't there, but from what my wife told me they didn't offer any actual proof. I'm not sure if he was just there make a complaint or something more.

If the bays have been established using a traffic order (as they should have been) then tell the council a non-EV is parked in the space and get them to enforce the order.  (Don't advertise it is you doing the reporting as it may not make you popular with the neighbours)

sheramber

You could arrange with the council to put ia channel for the cable  into the pavement.

There probably would be a charge but it might work out cheaper in the long run than public chargers. 

Section62

sheramber said:

You could arrange with the council to put ia channel for the cable  into the pavement.

There probably would be a charge but it might work out cheaper in the long run than public chargers. 

Brighton & Hove don't allow it -

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/travel-and-road-safety/electric-vehicle-ev-charging/private-charging-over-highway-cables-gullies-etc

Baldytyke88

joeythepoey said:

I wasn't there, but from what my wife told me they didn't offer any actual proof. I'm not sure if he was just there make a complaint or something more.

Hopefully, they were not genuine, but this thread gives you lots of good advice on what you need to do so that that scenario does not become a reality.

Okell

joeythepoey said:

MeteredOut said:

joeythepoey said:

elsien said:

OP hasn’t said how they know that people tripping over the cable are “locked onto” their phones so it may well be just a presumption. And potentially an inaccurate one.

An unexpected cable cover across the pavement with no street lighting doesn’t need someone to be looking at their phone to be tripped over

I've seen it happen from my front room window at several occasions during the day - and people were always on their phone. 

I appreciate it's harder to see at night, hence putting in the lights. It's pretty impossible to miss during the day.

There are 3 other people charging their cars in my street in the same way (I actually got the link off one of them for the cable covers) - that doesn't mean I feel justified or anything, but it seems rising electricity costs are part of the problem. 

I can't see how a bay being marked as EV or not has any bearing on things.

 Did the victim offer any proof that it was your cable cover that caused his injuries? What did he actually want when he came to your door?

I was simply pointing out that even with an EV charging bay being marked 'EV Only', it appears most regular car owners don't give a hoot and park in them anyway, which mean we often can't even charge on one of the lampposts in our street even if we wanted to.

We're based in Brighton...

Report them.  Couldn't be simpler:  Report a blocked EV bay  They say they'll respond within an hour.

It doesn't give you an excuse for trailing a trip hazard across a public footpath

Grey_Critic

I write Risk Assessments, Method Statements and documentation for companies carrying out installations under the National Electrical Registration Scheme - NERS. Some of our clients carry out installation of Commercial EV points BUT any work they carry out on the Public Highway (and that includes pavements) must comply with the regulations and they need a permit from the local authority before any work can be carried out. The regulations also lay down what signage/safety barriers etc.shall be installed. They must also carry insurance.

You cannot run a cable (or anything else) across the pavement even with the appropriate safety covers/precautions without a permit. I also discussed this with an assessing officer who confirmed this fact. If someone falls over it then you will be held liable.

Just to be clear even in the case of Emergency repairs for Gas/Electric/Water services they must obtain a permit although the regulations do make allowance for emergencies and in such cases the permit is issued retrospectivel.

TooManyPoints

You cannot run a cable (or anything else) across the pavement even with the appropriate safety covers/precautions without a permit. I also discussed this with an assessing officer who confirmed this fact. If someone falls over it then you will be held liable.

I quite agree. Which makes the advice provided by Hampshire County Council on how you should do so "safely" all the more puzzling:

Electric vehicle charging guidance for residents | Transport and roads | Hampshire County Council

Baldytyke88

Grey_Critic said:

You cannot run a cable (or anything else) across the pavement even with the appropriate safety covers/precautions without a permit. I also discussed this with an assessing officer who confirmed this fact. If someone falls over it then you will be held liable.

But you can with a permit!

How many people have changed the brake disks/pads on their car, charged the battery, without issue?

Yes, someone may complain about the house up the road fixing numerous cars on the roadside, but we need a solution to this issue.