Why are stair lifts so slow?

Question

Why are stair lifts so slow?

Answer 1

Thats the way they are designed I suppose, don't want Grandma shooting off the end do you....

Answer 2

It would take a much more powerful motor to get up the steps fast.  Bigger motors equal bigger prices and insurance companies don't like spending money.

Answer 3

so old people dont fall

Answer 4

Really just for safety's sake,most stairlifts are fitted with an emergency breaking system that locks them place if a catastrophic failure occurs.

Answer 5

So old people don't wee themselves.

Answer 6

So you can get off when you feel the urge to run up/down the stairs.

Answer 7

its to do with the gearing

it has to be a very very high ratio in case the motor fails during a lift

otherwise the weight of a person would make it drop back down

[similar to the way a car wont roll down a hill if you park it in first gear]