Mandatory license and insurance for mobility scooters

This seems like an ageist post!
what about cyclists, horse riders, kids on skateboards and scooters, electric scooters, e bikes

I think we should start off by dividing these things up by size/speed - for any given scooter, is it basically a "walking substitute" (smallish, only goes at walking speed) or a "car substitute" (bigger and faster)?

Ones which are walking substitutes should be treated as wheelchairs and allowed to go anywhere (obvs). Ones which are car substitutes should be treated in a similar way to bikes/cars/golf buggies and not allowed in buses or shops.

If someone has mobility issues to the point that they cannot move around inside the shop without a scooter, they will need to use one of the scooters that is smaller and treated more like a wheelchair so that they can enter the supermarket without getting out of it.

That might mean using a bus or wheelchair taxi to get to the supermarket if the supermarket is a long way away and the person can no longer drive. I understand that's hard, but people need to use common sense when it comes to retiring to rural/edge-of-town areas without a support network - most people do lose the ability to drive eventually, so retiring in an area where there are no buses and taxis are likely to be very expensive is a bad idea (unless you are "generationally rural" and have a good support network that is happy to help you out, give you lifts and do shopping for you etc.)

I saw a lady on a massive mobility scooter (like you would go on the road on) take out a display of flowers in the supermarket only last week.

Not sure what the answer is here. Maybe the really big ones should be banned from the supermarket. But then obviously people still need groceries...

My lovely late neighbour didn’t ever have a driving licence. As his mobility worsened, he got a mobility scooter. A few months later he had an accident on it and fell breaking his hip. He never made it home and died in hospital of sepsis. Only mid 60s and we miss him.

I’ve seen people crashing into pedestrians on these too. Agree with you OP.

It’s clear that there are different classes of mobility scooters. Some are indeed similar to “legs” in that they are more wheelchair-like. Others, however, are bigger and more like small cars, and it’s apparent that some people are buying them immediately after having a license revoked or after a non-driving spouse dies, which suggests something pretty different to “This is my legs and I can’t walk without one.” There may be a case for some regulation of the bigger scooters.

What a shitty post.

I admit I have little experience because these are not common in rural areas. Aren’t you talking about a test to decide if someone can be ambulatory?

I find that idea frightening. It may be necessary, but it still scares me. I would want to see some real stats before supporting such a plan.

Today I saw a man on a mobility scooter driving down the main road into town (London suburb and VERY busy). A huge line of traffic was crawling along behind him but it was an accident waiting to happen. Oh and pavements on both sides so no idea what he was doing.

Surely it would depend on the scooter? I have a friend who uses a little one that she used to be able to fold up and put in her car. it was also fine to use on a bus.

There are scooters out now that are fucking massive... are pretty much automatic trikes, with the weight and speed to match road vehicles. I see some that do have number plates on.

I’d like to see the evidence that the majority have never driven a car.

A class 3 mobility scooter driven on any public land must be registered with the DVLA. There just isn’t a requirement to display the registration number. They all have them though.

Statistically, most disabled people can drive so anecdote does not equal data.

I do sometimes have concerns when I meet people who have a dementia diagnosis and who have had to surrender their license as unfit to drive, but then they subsequently purchase big mobility scooters.

Yes, the retailer "should" make sure they assess the person. But even when they can see that the person isn't suitable, it's not straightforward to just refuse.

I know an individual who has been through several scooters because he crashes them. Staff from mobility shops have rung up with concerns about this man appearing with wads of cash and insisting on making his purchase. (He's very rational and eloquent and doesn't remember that he's done all this before). He's been stopped by police for dangerous driving, he's hit someone and put them in hospital... And still he carries on because he doesn't remember what's happened before or realise there's a problem. We raise safeguarding concerns and alert the local authorities and somehow no one can stop him.

You're mixing up class 3 and All terrain/not in class there - most 3s look like mobility scooters, not ATVs (which are what most people call quad bikes).

You can, but you can't get a car too.
I opted for the car because it would be used more and had to buy my mobility scooter

Many people with electric wheelchairs don't get them through the NHS.

I was only quoting from the gov.uk website. I wouldn't disagree that it's nonsense. That's why I said in the last line "But I expect that a lot of people disregard this anyway."

I do have a disability but the shop I bought mine from didn't ask for proof either.

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/23321056.helston-residents-anger-livewest-housing-cornwall/

DH has had to claim on his insurance once. When his scooter was vandalized. Lights were smashed plus other damage Happened in town

Also had to pay £200 for the roof of the scooter shed to be fixed when druggies tried to break into it. No consequences or threats to destroy their stuff though

Apart from anything else, they are not cheap if stolen

And i bet they wouldnt bring one in for e scooter users.

A medical for what purpose? To decide if they have capacity before prosecuting them for riding an e scooter on public land? Why do people keep comparing disability mobility aids/blue badges to vehicles that people commit a criminal offence if they ride them on the road/pavement/park/shop?

Thats hilarious.

A man you have never seen or spoken to and you have diagnosed him, just because he has similar symptoms to your dad?

And you call me out, you hypocrite.

As for your Parkinsons, show me where I said that!

Obviously you want to score some internet points today.