new danger

[MichaelW]

This is a really scary one. About a year ago, laser-pointer pens were pretty popular amonst teenagers for causing annoiance at cinemas. Some also used them againt drivers. The craze seemed toi have died out, but last week a local bus driver was blinded in one eye by a kid with a laser. He managed to bring the bus to a halt, but has lost the sight in one eye, and damaged the other. The kid got away, because the victim cant identify them.
Im really worried that these kids will target cyclists on a downhill bend. Its so much to watch a cyclist come off his bike and get run over. The kids who do this just have no concept of the consequences of their stupidity.

[RonH]

Will protective eyewear help?
I wear clear or yellow lenses when it's dark/twilight and dark lenses when it's sunny.

[LittleBigMan]

Michael, maybe they will be banned, given the danger. Sounds silly, but think of the toys that have been banned because a few kids choked to death.

At work, we have a computer-tape storage device that reads bar codes with a laser. It has a warning not to look at the laser. How can they sell a product just as dangerous so easily? What about kids blinding themselves?

In many states in the U.S.A., many types of fireworks are illegal (not that they aren't still used.) Some have the power to blow your fingers off.

[cycletourist]

I had no idea these things were so dangerous. I thought they were merely annoying. Are you sure this story is true?

[Chris L]

Originally posted by cycletourist
I had no idea these things were so dangerous. I thought they were merely annoying. Are you sure this story is true?

I am wondering the same thing. How many people did they blind in cinemas?

[MichaelW]

The legal ones, cat 1 and 2 are red. If someone points it at your eyes, you will be temporarily incapacitated, but no permanat damage unless you really stare hard at it. For a cyclist, driver or pilot, temp incapacitaion of vision has some consequences.

The cat-3 lasers are illegal in the UK, but you can still get hold of them. These are much more powerful green ones, and can cause some retinal damage if you stare at them.

Ther are steps in the USA to ban them, but they cost a few dollars and are pretty widespread.

[stewartp]

I remember seeing this news article and at the time I was thinking "hmmmm, excellent aim by kids to get the driver in both eyes in a moving vehicle"

But read this BBC article from 1997. Sportspeople hve been targeted & one bus company claimed 32 incidents in 1 month.

Stew

[stewartp]

Ok I'll paste the URL this time!

http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_29000/29333.stm

Stew

[mwmw]

In the construction industry, we use lasers all the time to establish and transfer plumb, level, and square. I have been exposed to them on a daily basis for several years with no harmful effects. Staring at any bright light for a long time can hurt your eyesight. The "warnings" are for people with no common sense. I think some people have been watching too many cartoons.