Police at Kansai International Airport on Thursday started using Segways to beef up security at night time, authorities said.
According to Kansai International Airport, security personnel will use three Segways, imported from the U.S., to patrol the multilevel car park at the airport and the concourse of the airport station from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.
The Segway has a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour, with good mobility, and has the ability to turn in a small radius.
An airport spokesman said: “There are a lot of benefits to Segways. Officers can observe a wide area from a Segway, more than they could see if they were in a car."
© News reports
16 Comments
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architrex
I want to work on a segway......
my2sense
Guy who invented this is a real cool guy... Actually he uses the old textile mills (1850s) in Manchester NH for research and office. I remember him and his team test driving it in the massive parking lot in the mid 90s and he used to come into the restaurant I was bartending (in adjacent mill). Weird but cool it just shows up now where I always use KIX 15 yrs later.
sharky1
All they need to do now is arm them with stun guns and 9mm automatics, and they will be all set. If they were in the US, it is likely that they would have their Segway stolen on the first use...
Ultradude
Same reason cops ride bicycles and horses, visibility and mobility. Plus these are quiet and can turn on dime.
Mittsu
Is security a problem in the carpark at Kansai International? Any cars been broken into or anyone mugged?
timorborder
This is an accident waiting to happen.
wanderlust
And still not street legal in Japan!
seeker1
I really don't get why it isn't street legal in Japan, unless they are waiting for a Japanese maker to create one before making them legal. I would love to ride one of them to the supermarket.
escape_artist
I remember seeing these at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport too last year. Like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss9K7hlhNPA
jason6
Has there been any cases where the cops run down (like literally run over) criminals they are chasing? Just curious..
nandakandamanda
Sounds like a good idea, whoever had it first.
PS A max speed of 20 onto a moving walkway and they could maybe hit 25 kph! Eeeee....haaaaAAAAHHHH
Monaka
"First Guy to Touch the Ground Loses"
fondofj
The police guys got a good toy to play with.
Branded
seeker is right- "I really don't get why it isn't street legal in Japan, unless they are waiting for a Japanese maker to create one before making them legal. I would love to ride one of them to the supermarket."
There are so many more applications for the Segway- but alas Japan is dragging it's feet for obvious reasons. In the US we see Segways everywhere, at golf courses, for mail delivery, police patrols, at large factories where walking or driving is unrealistic, to cruises around the shoreline in Hawaii ! These are great, another example of American ingenuity.
Mikhail Mozzhechkov
stupid idea bicycle is much cheaper, same speed.
Gurukun
Niiiiice. Black Segaways and dark blue uniforms to patrol at night.