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

[JellyDiamond]

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?

I think that the suppliers of the mobility scooters can really help too. My friend who has severe arthritis bought hers from TGA Mobility and they were brilliant. They gave her an assessment to ensure she had the right type of scooter for her needs, and also briefed her on how to drive it safely on the road and the pavement before she took the scooter home.

Your post at 15:53 is disgusting, Jelly.

You should modify your behaviour because that is your responsibility.

Next I'm driving a car, I'll just bash into any kids that run into the road, shall I? Because the world doesn't revolove around them.

But that's exactly what many mobility scooters users who can't control them properly seem to be doing?

I think the problem is that the people who seem to be inured by scooters are not physically able adults, they are toddlers and frail elderly people who aren't quick on their feet and can't get out of the way.

The numbers of accidents caused/deaths etc is totally useless information as it does not relate what percentage/total number of motorised scooters/cycles etc are taken into account to give the figures. We need it as a % against the total numbers of each method of transport in use.

If there are 10,000 motorised scooters and 100 accidents that is 1%
If there are 50,000 cycles and 100 accidents that is 0.20%

The number of accidents caused by mobility scooters is high in relation to their relative numbers but it still is the drivers of any of these vehicles
that need training, IMO the problem with mobility scooters is that they are very quiet and the drivers do tend to come right up behind you giving you no chance to get out of the way because you do not have eyes in the back of your head, they, however, can see you and could avoid you or give some warning BEFORE they hit you.

Mobility scooters are only used by disabled people. Those who use them, rely on them for their ability to live their daily lives. They will generally be on lower budgets than average.

I point this out, because a criticism of mobility scooters can easily become a criticism of disabled people. That it can be very threatening to criticise, in any way, something that is vital to people's daily lives. And that airily suggesting a solution which will impose more costs on the users of scooters is threatening, when many people will barely be scraping by in the first place.

Hope this helps somebody to understand why this thread is upsetting to disabled people, and anybody who supports their right to an equal place in society.

This incident with a two year old happened local to me, the woman who hit her had dementia, was not capable of making split second decisions, but the police could do nothing to stop her continuing to ride her scooter.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6266369/Hit-and-run-mobility-scooter-riders-escaping-punishment.html

Also, I can understand why people might be wary of extra costs, but those already apply to elderly and disabled car drivers. They still have to pay for insurance etc. even if their cars are essential for their mobility.

They are not only used to by disabled people though, they are used by the elderly as well.

Saying that tests and training should be provided before use is not threatening in any way, and I'm not sure how it can be constructed as being that way? Why use such emotive language?

This is really putting me off getting one. I will have to hire, because I certainly can't afford to buy one. I've been planning to hire a scooter one day a week or fortnight so I can do more stuff. My ambit is currently limited to half a mile on a good day.

Seeing how intolerant people are is frightening.

No Jelly, if they need a scooter they would fall within the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010:

"You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities."

I'm using emotive language because, in my experience, that is how disabled people I know well feel when issues such as this are raised.

if a person's judgement is impaired to such a degree that they think driving mobility scooters drunk is an ok thing to do, then I think it's high time there were laws, that were rigorously enforced, to govern their use.

here one old bloke actually entered the motorway, going in the wrong direction to the traffic (he was going southbound on the northbound lanes), on his mobility scooter. In his own best interests, as well as in the interests all other motorway users, I do think his ability to own/drive a mobility scooter should be removed. It was the third time this old bloke had came into contact with the police for fairly major (potentially life threatening) "mistakes" on his mobility scooter. The first time he knocked a market stall completely over with his scooter. Luckily no one was hurt, though the stall was manned by two people at the time. Second time he reversed into people sitting outside a cafe having lunch on the terrace, knocking them off their chairs and knocking tables flat to the ground. Then came his wrong way up the motorway fiasco.

I can't use them without a license to drive a car even when they are designed fundamentally differently,

Nobody has suggested you should need a car driving licence. A car driving licence wouldn't be appropriate for mobility scooters. However, training on how to use a mobility scooter would be appropriate. Whilst I am sure the posters here who use mobility scooters can steer them properly that doesn't mean that everyone can. If somebody cannot steer it properly then the scooter is useless to them and actually quite dangerous. It might seem simple enough that you just turn the handle in the direction you want to go but not everyone gets the hang of that easily.

Garlic don't let this put you off, they are massively useful. No one is saying they should be banned, just that more care needs to be taken about the ability of rider to use one. I'm sure you are a careful person who wouldn't dream of driving drunk or speeding along pavements so you'll be fine.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your reports. We're a bit worried this thread is getting off course and becoming a bit personal about people who drive mobility scooters.

We'd really appreciate it if folks could stick to the original discussion about whether mobility scooters should be regulated.

As always, please report any posts you think we need to take a look at.

Training is provided! But if you're dealing with a user who suffers dementia or palsy, say - or is just a shit driver of the type that doesn't notice environmental hazards - you'll be saying they mustn't use a motorised mobility aid.

The things are battery operated - only go at low speeds for short distances, they are not the same as cars or motorbikes. More equivalent to push bikes and baby buggies.

Again - you're saying people using mobility aids mustn't inconvenience you. And that is disablist.

We are only being intolerant of people who use them incorrectly and dangerously though Garlic. Why can't you understand that?

You've seen the examples on here of people who have very been badly injured by mobility scooter users. If a driver caused those kinds of injuries and they were at fault then they would be prosecuted and potentially lose their licence, even receive a custodial sentence in extreme cases.

It's not unreadable to suggest some kind training being mandatory before unleashing them on the public.

Happy, that bloke was a hazard no matter what he was doing, and was committing an offence. Same as if he'd been walking/crawling/dancing/riding a push bike down the M1. It has fuck all to do with the fact he was on a scooter.

Thanks, Saskia

KurriKurri I said the first time posted that I also think cyclists should be regulated as well as mobility scooters. And no one is calling for mobility scooters to be banned, they're calling for them to be more regulated.

Garlic, it's not about inconvenience. Did you read that link I posted? That little girl wasn't inconvenienced, she was nearly killed and was left with life changing injuries which required plastic surgery.

As a society we have to balance different and sometimes conflicting needs. Yes, disabled people have a right to use tools to increase their mobility, but other people, especially the very old and very young have a right to use public spaces safely. Somehow we have to find a balance, and that may mean some people are not able to use scooters for their own safety and others.

OK, Jelly, let's try this a different way.

For mobility-impaired people who are too flaky or wobbly to drive an 8mph vehicle to the required standard, what solution do you offer?

Based on the data I could find 300,000 scooters in 2012 (apologies for Dail Mail link)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143307/Britain-mobility-scooter-capital-Europe-300-000-roads.html

About 100 times as many cars causing about 1000 times as many accidents causing serious injuries to pedestrians. As most mobility scooter users don't drive i'd suggest they are less of a risk to others than the able bodied.

I suspect cyclists are safer as there will be probably a few million bikes on the road.

I suspect the reason it seems like we have heard so many stories here is that we have a lot of near-misses and minor injuries.

Flaky scooter user + toddler = two thoroughfare users with poor judgement.

The toddler presumably had the benefit of a competent adult to protect her (but, on this occasion, didn't.) The scooter user had no-one. How, then, should the scooter user have been getting about?

I'd be very surprised if more toddlers have been injured by scooter users than by drunk pedestrians, drunk cyclists, or even sober & fully-able pedestrians just making a mistake.

I'm also aware of many frail, elderly pedestrians being severely injured by baby buggies.

handsoff - it doesn't seem to take into account the useage though. my guess is that cars do a lot more miles than scooters, so if you take into account the accidents per mile then scooters may be more dangerous.