U.S. government declares hoverboards unsafe

[CtW]

Source: http://mashable.com/2016/02/19/hoverboards-unsafe/#86iOeCkshaqQ

GG hoverboard manufacturers

Quote

On Thursday, Mashable has learned, the CPSC sent out an official notice to retailers, manufacturers and importers with new hoverboard safety standards that, if not followed, could result in enforcement actions, including seizure of the devices as well as civil and criminal penalties. More directly, the CPSC is calling on hoverboard makers and sellers to voluntarily take hoverboards off the market until they can be certified as safe by UL, the independent testing firm widely used by U.S. electronics manufacturers. UL has not yet certified any hoverboards as safe. While the CPSC's action doesn't constitute a recall by itself, it will almost certainly prompt recalls from major retailers and manufacturers. The notice applies to all self-balancing scooters, including single-wheel devices. The CPSC "considers self-balancing scooters that do not meet the safety standards referenced above to be defective, and that they may present a substantial product hazard," reads the agency's notice. "Consumers risk serious injury or death if their self-balancing scooters ignite and burn. ... Should the staff encounter such products at import, we may seek detention and/or seizure. In addition, if we encounter such products domestically, we may seek a recall of these products."

In addition to UL's hoverboard tests, the CPSC conducted its own series of hoverboard tests. Those tests included voltage tests of the devices while in use, inspection of the hoverboard circuit boards and batteries, examination of previously burned hoverboards, dynamometer tests (to measure the force of the devices) and even CT scans of hoverboard batteries. No particular brand of hoverboard is shown in the testing video, and the agency declined to name which brands of hoverboards it tested.

Given the recent incidents involving fires and injuries I'm not surprised by this in the least.  

[ThinkWithPortals]

Well, they're dumb anyway...

(the hoverboards, not the Government. Actually, scratch that. The Government's dumb too.)

[Enderman]

good

those things need to stop existing

[SurvivorNVL]

That means they'll be a collectors item.  TO THE STORE!

/s

[MrRavens]

Dang it, this is why we can't have nice things China. >_> God damn explosive hover boards.

[MrRavens]

Just now, SurvivorNVL said:

That means they'll be a collectors item.  TO THE STORE!

Haha, get to it. I'm sure you could make a profit if they are all banned for good.

[reapersivan]

Just now, LtRavens said:

Dang it, this is why we can't have nice things China. >_> God damn explosive hover boards.

Lowkey they were meant to explode and destroy the country...

[VerticalDiscussions]

Im afraid of stepping on one of those anyways. Might as well just accelerate randomly, and make me jump from it, before exploding automatically!

[Leonard]

I agree but i feel they also need to "rate" the users.....i feel they are also "unsafe"

[minibois]

Good.

Some idiot was driving one on the cycle road yesterday (while you are not allowed to drive your 'hoverboard' on public roads anyways..) and he was being very dangerous, AKA: he almost hit me because he suddenly stopped on the road

[★ Coups ★]

Ha. Its a shame they are all made by the same Chinese manufacturer, just branded differently, otherwise it might be possible to find a quality one!

[bcredeur97]

are they really saying that something that doesnt even exist yet is unsafe?

 

 

oh wait, those stupid things that don't even hover. meh dont care.

[Goldensapling]

6 minutes ago, valdyrgramr said:

They're not even hoverboards.  They're just generic skateboards.

Well actually, they're segways without a stick. Skateboards you can at least do something on.

[cesrai]

Took them long enough, where I live it's prohibited to sell one or even use it in public places.

[Guest Kloaked]

What hoverboards? I haven't ever seen one yet. 

[samcool55]

And i declare guns unsafe! This is pure 'murica...

[RagnarokDel]

Define safe.

[Roawoao]

7 hours ago, Kloaked said:

What hoverboards? I haven't ever seen one yet. 

 

They just need to invert things. Cool the entire skate park to -197deg (indoors probably), give the person a space suit and have a thin pools of liquid nitrogen to keep the board cool. Then you will never run out of hover time. Cost would probably be in the billions of dollars but who said it would be affordable.

[zacRupnow]

I remember when this almost happened to Waveboards.

Spoiler

Shortly after some company patent trolled them and released the lower quality Ripsticks, the patent was refused and waveboards were allowed to sell again but the damage was done. Most people think they are ripsticks despite the much higher quality construction.

[Prysin]

21 hours ago, Enderman said:

good

those things need to stop existing

and people supporting their existence should be removed from the gene pool

[Dabombinable]

*Looks at amount of "hoverboards" sold, looks at incidences involving them, still doesn't see a problem*

[Mushious]

On 19/02/2016 at 8:57 AM, valdyrgramr said:

That's why I said generic.

Not sure you understand the meaning of that word. A generic skateboard would look like this: