The Caution Signs Show: The Great American Mobility Scooter Trip

The Caution Signs Show: The Great American Mobility Scooter Trip is a 2021 British television travel special based on The Caution Signs Show and was shown on Channel 5 on the 16th February 2021. The special, set in the United States, followed Thomas as he attempted to cross as many states as he could, with the main goal being to reach New York by setting off from California. The special was infamous due to Thomas’ failed attempt to reach the desired location and due to the fact that the scooter was eventually towed by the police due to him driving on the U.S. Route 66, which also resulted in him being sent back to England.

At his disposal throughout the trip were hotels, stores, and spare batteries for the scooter. His scooter, which he bought prior to coming to America, was red and had an extra engine so that it travels fast. At it’s fastest, the scooter travelled at 20 miles per hour (32 kph) which allowed for 20 minutes worth of driving. Alongside the engine, the scooter also had turn indicators, headlights, a UK licence plate, a big American flag at the back, and brake lights. The scooter, in theory, would have travelled 200 mph before charging the 20 spare batteries, 16 spare from an original 4 batteries which the scooter can only take one at a time. If charged it could have taken him up to roughly 40 miles.

The special first aired on Channel 5 on the 16th February 2021 and received positive reviews from critics, most calling it “a breath of fresh entertainment lacking nowadays”.

Plot
Starting in Santa Monica in Los Angeles, Thomas aims to reach New York in 3,000 miles and in exactly one month. However, when setting off, the screw for the trailer snaps, resulting in him having to replace it with rope and strong rubber bands. On the road, he clocks 15 miles but when he stops at the traffic lights, it is reduced to 10 and 7 miles, resulting in him concluding that the trailer is weighing down the scooter and the current battery life, bringing to a 15 mile per hour range. This brings it up to a two month trip. He eventually arrives in downtown Los Angeles where he takes the bike lane to be safe. Later, his battery dies whilst attempting to drive up a hill, resulting in another change. Thomas then denounces that he will make it to his desired destination on that night.

The third set of batteries then die, resulting in another change. Thomas then gets upset over him being in the middle of nowhere and tries to rethink his plans. The next day in a hotel room, he sorts out the electronics for the batteries, orders a generator to constantly charge the batteries, and eats a Carolina reaper pepper to celebrate the success but ends up puking it out. The next day, he gets the scooter painted with stripes by Von Hot Rod and sets off again. He eventually stops at a Popeyes and nearly gets hit by an oncoming train. After refuelling his generator, he approaches another loud train and passes a skydancer. After being noted that a road is owned by Indians, he travels on a dirt road and finally reaches the highway.

He then gets stuck on another dirt road and by night-time, he crosses the highway and reaches a hotel for the night. The following morning, Thomas’ lips get swollen, and he continues his trip across the highway. However, he reaches a US marine corps combat centre and has to go around when denied entry. Thomas eventually reaches a desolate road that goes on for miles, he tries to continue going but finds his engine has started spluttering. But many minutes later, it starts working once again. After seeing a UFO, he reaches a town where he stops off for food at a local store. He then crosses into Arizona via a bridge and enters his third hotel room of the trip where he discovers that time zone changes result in him losing an hours sleep.

The next morning, he applies sunscreen and continues on his journey. He stops at the Colorado River and returns to an uphill struggle with the desert mountains. Stopping at a petrol station, he applies chapstick and munches on a macaroni salad. Unfortunately, he gets pulled over by the cops who let him off with a warning due to his invalid UK licence plate. A few miles later, he gets pulled over again for illegally being on a road. To continue, he pays two Mexicans to drive his mobility scooter in their pickup truck somewhere else. Despite the carnage, he still continues to drive. But he digs his wheels into the sand, leaving him stuck. Eventually he frees himself and continues. After freeing himself again, he arrives on another solid concrete road, relieved. In the fourth hotel room, he sleeps and spends the rest of the next day sulking over the previous day.

Retrieving a new hoodie, he continues on his adventure despite the loose seat from that day’s yesterday. By midday, he is wearing 2 shirts and a hoodie due to the extreme cold. Stating that he has been travelling on Route 66 for the past few hours, he reveals that he has done 80 miles on that day. However, he gets pulled over for the third time. His scooter is confiscated and is put on the back of a truck and Thomas is sent back to England because of a supposed traffic hold up. Back in the studio, Thomas compares the incident to getting “deported”. He then advises to the people of America that he didn’t intend to hurt anybody and wishes them good luck with their police force.