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Original poster

To think that mobility scooters are bloody dangerous and there should be more regulation of their use?

786 replies

JellyDiamond · 22/09/2014 12:14

I've just nearly run over a man on a disability scooter. I was driving along at 30mph, when he pulled off the kerb right in front of me. He didn't look anyway but when he realised I was coming towards him he didn't seem to know how to stop it and carried on. Had I been going any faster I would have hit him, had another car been behind me they'd have crashed into me...

I appreciate elderly and disabled people need to get about, but many of them don't seem to know how to use these scooters. There's an old chap near me who uses and one and drives along in the middle of the road, holding up traffic and refusing to pull over to let anyone pass. I've nearly been run over myself by them on pavements, in shops, in supermarkets and I've heard of people who have actually been bit and injured by them.

Surely there should be some kind of course and test for users before allowing them lose on the public? Maybe even an assessment to see who actually needs them rather than just giving them out willy billy to any OAP over the age of 70 wants one?

OP posts:
ArcheryAnnie · 23/09/2014 12:16

It's also not fair at all to put the onus of the solution solely on the shoulders of people who are expressing their wish not to be injured in public. I am allowed to say that I don't wish to be hurt, and to ask for reasonable measures to ensure this happens, without having to be the one to solve all the problems of the injury-causers.

Let's turn this around: in a place where scooter use gets very common, and where a proportion of those scooter-users do not use them (or are not able to use them) responsibly, then people who are frail, slow, have poor hearing or poor sight, or who have any other circumstances where they are at particular risk of injury from a heavy moving vehicle on the pavement that they are unable to leap away from - then those people will have to stay away. What about their freedom of movement?

ArcheryAnnie · 23/09/2014 12:19

So, in saying that those with multiple disabilities shouldn't be allowed to operate them in public places, you are saying they should be further restricted. This is the problem.

This hasn't been said. What has been said is that scooters should be regulated so that those who can't operate them safely can be found and either trained or their scooter use restricted. That is not the same as saying "nobody should use scooters".

GarlicSeptimus · 23/09/2014 12:24

Those who operate them unsafely are often limited to lower-powered ones. Some sort of balance has to be achieved, however, between confining them indoors and limiting dangerous use. See my post about village-dwellers above. Frankly, they take their own lives in their hands by travelling on the A-road but there is simply no other way, as things currently stand. I'm not surprised if their nerves are frazzled after that!

HappyScotProudBrit · 23/09/2014 12:27

A powered mobility device is the only option for many, Happy. So, in saying that those with multiple disabilities shouldn't be allowed to operate them in public places, you are saying they should be further restricted. This is the problem. I'm surprised you still don't get that. It's been said often enough.

Garlic, that is not at all what I, or anyone else is saying. As far as I am concerned, anyone can use them, as long as they can use them safely. If a person is unable to drive a mobility scooter safely, not only are they a danger to the general public, but also to themselves as we can see with the deaths and injuries of mobility scooter drivers. I want everyone, mobility scooter drivers, and members of the wider public to be protected through regulation.

I am surprised you still don’t get that. It’s been said often enough.

HappyScotProudBrit · 23/09/2014 12:31

Those who operate them unsafely are often limited to lower-powered ones.

that is just untrue. And why do we know it's untrue? because there is no test done to establish the safety levels of those who buy (rent, lease, borrow) a mobility scooter. Correct me if I am wrong, but anyone can buy them, right? There is no test one has to do to prove they are only buying something they can safely operate.

GarlicSeptimus · 23/09/2014 12:37

I don't know, I can't bloody buy one!
Anyway, I have limited patience with people who're content to moan about those damn disabled nuisances but unwilling to consider spending more money & effort on improving things for them. It's run out.

Bye, thread :) It's been an education!

ArcheryAnnie · 23/09/2014 12:39

"Expressing concern about the very real risk of injury" =/= "moaning".

I'm sorry you've left, Garlic, as you can't see how disablist you are being towards people with disabilities who are at risk from scooters.

Andrewofgg · 23/09/2014 12:42

GarlicSeptimus Shops to provide lightweight devices on arrival

WTAF? Retailers are running businesses, they are not an arm of social service!

As for insurance: if they don't cause many accidents, it will be cheap. If they do, it won't, but if they do it is essential. A heavy piece of metal at 8 mph is potentially dangerous, even lethal, and should be insured.

HappyScotProudBrit · 23/09/2014 12:43

Garlic, thanks for not swearing at me this time, it is appreciated.

You can't buy one? I assume that's due to personal financial restrictions as opposed to regulations stating you can't operate one safely?

And don't you think it's more than a bit rude to just assume I don't want to spend extra money and effort improving things?

At least have the decency to ask someone their opinion on something before you just allocate them one willynilly.

GarlicSeptimus · 23/09/2014 12:47

After 500 posts, I made some suggestions. All anybody else had come up with was insistence that multiply-disabled people should be prevented from using a device that helps them get around. I really am switching this off now.

HappyScotProudBrit · 23/09/2014 12:51

After 500 posts, I made some suggestions. All anybody else had come up with was insistence that multiply-disabled people should be prevented from using a device that helps them get around. I really am switching this off now.

not one person said people with multiple disabilities should be prevented from using a mobility device. Not one!

What people did say was ... ANY person, able bodied or disabled, young or old, male or female, tall or short, fat or thin, should have to demonstrate they have enough eyesight, reflexes and concentration to SAFELY operate a mobility scooter before they are allowed to operate them in public places.

ArcheryAnnie · 23/09/2014 12:58

raises hand

I made a suggestion! But because it wasn't "agree with everything Garlic says" it was ignored by her.

GarlicSeptimus · 23/09/2014 13:16

You did suggest a 1mph speed limit, sorry, Annie. I'm a bit Hmm about that slow of a crawl, but don't disagree they could be slower. I said I don't understand why the pavement limit is 4mph not 3. (perhaps because a brisk walk is 4-5 mph, I don't know.)

I am shit at leaving pokes unanswered, aren't I?!

GarlicSeptimus · 23/09/2014 13:19

Just been imagining all the outraged threads about being stuck behind a scooter going at 1 mph Wink

ArcheryAnnie · 23/09/2014 13:27

Yes, a bit! (Me, too, though - can never just wander away.)

HappyScotProudBrit · 23/09/2014 13:29

I am shit at leaving pokes unanswered, aren't I?!

No one is poking you and saying should or shouldn't answer. It's probably just not the best idea to flounce off vocally all the time, to just return minutes later. We can walk away from a thread for 30 minutes without announcing our departure in a dramatic way.

back to the topic at hand.

Garlic, what objections do you have to a regulation that states

to be able to drive a mobility scooter one must pass this basic eye test. And a basic test to demonstrate that the reflexes meet a basic level of safety, and this test to show coordination and concentration are not so badly impaired that they form a risk to the driver and general public.

onelastfling · 23/09/2014 13:35

I've noticed that a lot of mobility scooter users will often drive in a straight line and ONLY a straight line.

Why is that? Surely these things can be steered around things and people?

Or are they not easily maneuverable?

I agree that there should be some sort of test before people are let lose on them.
It's all very well saying that it's annoying when people stop suddenly in front of you.
but, people are going to stop and look at things.... why shouldn't they?
If this happens and you find it annoying, go around them.

onelastfling · 23/09/2014 13:37

She just beeps if anyone is in her way

How rude.

DustyCropHopper · 23/09/2014 13:39

We have all sorts of the mobility scooters in our town. We used to have a couple that had a side by side double scooter, which was huge to be fair. They were involved in a nasty accident on the pavement in town. They then had a tandem one behind the other double one, plus a separate one each. I haven't seen the double one around recently.
Tbh if had no idea there was a top speed on the pavement and would definitely say that this information has by passed the elderly lady down my road who travels along the path at the rate of knots and forgets that she still need to stop at the kerb to check for traffic when crossing the road. I do think more instructions should be given (maybe in the form of a short course), unless, of course, things have changed since my Grandad got his. He got a very basic press this press that 5 minute tutorial when he picked up his scooter and if his skills on his scooter were anything like his driving skills, I bet he was popular where he lived Grin. They are a brilliant aid for those who need them, but I do think an insurance for them would be a good idea, for everyone's sake.

onelastfling · 23/09/2014 13:44

^I was out on my scooter yesterday, a fantastic trip along the seafront, my little boy capering excitedly alongside me. Plenty of ignorant pedestrians too who required me to stop dead or make a complicated avoidance manoeuvre rather than take a step out of their way.*

I've never understood the reasoning behind this.
Why shouldn't pedestrians stop to look at something if they want to?
Should they never stand still ever again, just in case there's a mobility scooter behind them?
I bet if you see something interesting, you stop to have a look?
Why should the other people out and about not feel free to do the same?

Talk about an entitled way of thinking. Confused

LadySybilLikesCake · 23/09/2014 13:45

People should be covered under their household contents insurance Wink

BreconBeBuggered · 23/09/2014 13:45

Is there anyone on this thread who can say how easy mobility scooters actually are to manouevre? Simplicity of operation doesn't necessarily imply great flexibility in the face of obstacles, living or inanimate. Frankly I dread relying on one for my personal independence in the future.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 23/09/2014 14:04

Onelastfling

It was me out and about on my scooter at the seaside. I was referring to several situations where the path was two narrow for myself to comfortably pass a couple walking hand in hand towards me. Rather than one of them take one step aside so that we could all pass, they continued walking at me. I stopped so that they could pass safely holding hands. I really don't think I was the entitled one in that scenario.

Do you really prefer a disabled person to make a complicated avoidance manoeuvre rather than take one step out of your way? Really? On my rare spells of walking I am always hopping out of my way for a pram or an old person.

Sadly I guess a lot of people have your attitude.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/09/2014 14:07

HappyScot maybe her "flouncing off vocally" is her being upset by things people are saying?

Maybe thats a good time to lay off someone a bit.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/09/2014 14:08

Arguing with people about their mobility scooter use is a new low for MN

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