Mandatory license and insurance for mobility scooters

[Auburngal]

The thread of elderly people and driving has spurred this thread.

Mobility scooters have provided freedom for those who can’t walk far.

But I think based on my experiences of seeing mobility scooter users in my work, other shops and where I live, there should be a license and insurance.

I believe many didn’t drive a car prior so I have no concept of control and speed. Either their disability/health conditions or with women, their late husband did the driving and she never drove at all.

Some drive at the max speed in shops - it’s only 4mph is max speed inside and in busy areas. My colleague got run over by a mobility scooter user. She was caught by her work fleece which was fully unzipped as she was crouching to fill a shelf. She was dragged about 5m and shouting by at least 5 people didn’t do anything as the guy was deaf. She had massive bruises on her legs.

A few months ago I was topping up the bananas and a lady crashed into the back of my legs. No apologies.

About 7 years ago a man on his mobility scooter missed the corner and collided into the end of the aisle where we had promotional bottles of wine. About 30 bottles were smashed and he carried on.

There is an issue with many mobility scooters users oblivious to their actions and attitude problems.

I believe that sanctions of dangerous use of mobility scooters should be the same as using a car. Mobility scooters are not classed as vehicles in law.

There have been people who have died after being hit by mobility scooters like here www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65383596.amp

But I think based on my experiences of seeing mobility scooter users in my work, other shops and where I live, there should be a license and insurance

Do you think there should be a test to be passed before the licence is issued?

As nobody seems able to use Google

https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules/classes

Class 2 and 3
Your mobility scooter or powered wheelchair is usually in:

1. class 2 if it has a maximum speed of 4mph or less
2. class 3 if it has a maximum speed of 8mph

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs in class 2 and 3 can be used:

1. on pavements and other pedestrian areas
2. on cycle tracks

Class 3 mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can also be used on the road. You need to register them with DVLA.

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs in class 2 and 3 cannot be used on cycle lanes.

Not in a class

Your vehicle is not in a class if:

1. it can go more than 8mph
2. it’s wider than 0.85 metres
3. it weighs more than 150kg (or 200kg if you need any equipment attached to it - for example, medical equipment)

If your mobility scooter or powered wheelchair is not in class, you can only use it on the road.

You cannot use it on:

1. pavements or any other pedestrian areas
2. cycle tracks or cycle lanes

You need to:

1. get a valid driving licence to drive one
2. register your vehicle with DVLA

You may also need to insure your vehicle. Check how to insure or register your vehicle.

If you cause an accident while driving a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair that’s not in a class, you can be given the same penalty as if you were driving a car. You can go to prison, get a driving ban or get an unlimited fine.

My mum is a scooter user and I completely agree. I made her get insurance after some questionable driving. She’s much better now but still!

"The suitability of the mobility aid to the user should be regularly assessed by medical professionals. If there's any doubt about their ability/capacity to safely operate a scooter then they should not be permitted to use one, and alternatives considered."

@Coolblur

I'll think that reasonable when that also applies to cyclists and e-scooter riders.

PLENTY of us who use mobility scooters also drive cars! What a weird presumption to make. Why do you think they make 'Car Boot Scooters?!' I have a hoist in my boot which lifts my scooter into the back of my car ffs!

4mph car boot scooters cannot legally go on the road, only the bigger 8mph ones can.

I can drive my scooter perfectly well thank you. I do not need "insurance"

Reported for your appalling ableism & weight shaming.

I once ended up in hospital after someone on a bicycle crashed into me. Do people using bicycles have insurance? Or children on scooters?

Thank you 🙏

although no need to google when you can start a thread to incite twat-like behaviour from anonymous people about the already vulnerable disabled. 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

Could you clarify your medical qualifications and experience for readers? Just so everybody's aware that your opinions are based upon expertise and qualifications and not just common or garden ableism?

Do you have a source for this please? I live in England and didn't think it was necessary to have a licence here.

https://www.eta.co.uk/mobility-scooter-insurance/

And while they are at it they can do the same for ebikes and escooters.

Yes, of course, thank you for asking (I appreciate you're on an earlier page than my later post).

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5108437-mandatory-license-and-insurance-for-mobility-scooters?reply=136400258&utm_campaign=reply&utm_medium=share

That's great. I'm sure that you will save many lives by having my post removed.

That'll stop'em.

My grandmother had a mobility scooter for 5 years before she died aged 97.
Her vision and hearing were poor and she was on medication that affected her balance. Despite this she never had an accident or problem while riding it. She only used pavements and drove at a slow walking pace and people kept well out of her way.
Without the scooter her last few years would have been miserable.

Bikes too while you're about it.

Can anyone use a mobility scooter just for fun? Why don’t more do it just for the hell of it

As an electric wheelchair user, anyone suggesting my top speed of 4mph should be limited to 2.5mph can fuck right off. Mine was prescribed by the wheelchair service, is only issued with guidance and a demonstration of my ability to use it, and is my literal legs when I’m out and about. And given that the urban environment is often lacking the adjustments that make it accessible for wheelchair users, such as dropped kerbs, and enforcing a ban on pavement parking, such that I often have to double back on myself and travel far further than a pedestrian for the same journey, that 4mph is absolutely necessary to not lose even more time just trying to get from A to B. I am also constantly having to be more aware of my surroundings than almost any other pedestrian, continually having to plan my path metres ahead according to the people and obstacles I see.

I have to navigate an environment that includes pedestrians who won’t look up from their phone, runners who run in front of my wheels forcing a stop because they’re too arrogant to go round, cyclists likewise, people who end up in my lap because despite me shouting to alert them and physically stopping my chair, they still keep walking towards me, those who swing their bags round and catch me on the head or shoulder… and the list goes on.

That’s before you take into account the revolting ignorance and ableism of other shoppers and shop staff when you try to navigate your way round to do your shopping. Don’t lay hands on my chair to push me out of your way: ask me to move. Don’t look around for my carer rather than address me directly, or talk to my son/husband instead of me because you’ve assumed I’m not mentally competent to understand you. And don’t act like an egotistical prick by throwing yourself into the space you can see me aiming for by the shelf or fridge for fear that I’ll force you to wait 5 seconds for whatever it was you wanted, and placing yourself at risk of being driven into.

I am also sick to death of having to point out to supermarket management that placing a pallet of wine or beer bottles perpendicular to the end of the veg counter means that a wheelchair user and wheelchair trolley can no longer reach the veg at the end without risk of taking out the display, for example.

So I’ll tell you what. I will accept the need for insurance and a speed restriction below 4mph when we have removed all obstacles to accessibility and people treat us as human beings. I’ll take that bet because it will never fucking happen.

After numerous accidents in my area the local council and the local PCSOs put on some basic training and safety advice sessions for mobility scooters . It was very popular but sadly had to stop due to lack of funding. I do think it's a good idea to have some sort of instruction for newbies

I hope this doesn’t out me. When my oldest was 4 he got knocked over by a woman on a mobility scooter. He was holding my hand and she crashed into us/him. We were walking in a pedestrian only high street.

Miraculously he only got scrapes and bruises. The woman saw and continued. With a dismissive wave of the hand. I was shocked a member of public scooped by son up as he got pushed into her legs. I ran after the woman she was vile and swore at me. I took her keys out and dropped them down the drain. The police were called, I got a talking to she got nothing. Hope she didn’t have spare keys.

Totally ridiculous . If someone hurts you on a mobility scooter, cycle, scooter , walking you can still claim compensation. It happens so rarely that legislating is pointless (and enforcement would cost a huge amount)

Thanks for your response and for linking me to your later post. I have checked on the gov.uk website and see that the bit about needing a driving licence only applies if your mobility scooter is not in either class 2 or class 3. (Mine is class 3). So my understanding is that I can drive it on the road. (I currently have a driving licence, but may not get this renewed when it expires (due to disability, it does need to be renewed soon).

Do you mind me asking if your understanding is the same as mine, since you seem to have a good knowledge of this subject?

Thanks again.

Anyone issued a powered wheelchair on the nhs has to undertake a 'driving test' to show they are safe and competent to drive it. They get approved for indoors only or indoors and outdoors. I have lots of children on my caseload who (quite rightly) were denied one as would have been unsafe for both them and others.
Parents can of course choose to purchase privately, and this is unregulated

As a powered wheelchair user with a maximum speed of 4mph - I did have a driving assessment by NHS wheelchair services. That's besides the point. Sad to hear what happened to your colleague but that's an anecdote. The vast majority of scooter and wheelchair users use them safely and most of us have our own stories to tell about bipeds walking or crashing into us by accident or on purpose.