Mobility scooters can be difficult to control at times, and accidents want to be avoided. A mobility scooter can cause damage if it collides with something or someone, and guidelines must be followed for users of scooters. While a scooter does give you freedom, you should be responsible and watch out for yourself and others safety.
Follow our tips on staying safe when you are out and about on your all-terrain mobility scooter:
- Make sure the scooter is appropriate for your height, weight and movements. Ask for professional advice when buying the scooter and go for a test drive.
- Keep the battery fully charged and make a note of how far you can go before the scooter needs recharging.
- Remember the distance you can travel on your mobility scooter will depend on the condition of the battery, the weight on the scooter and the route you take.
- Keep your mobility scooter well maintained and fully serviced.
- Take care when you can’t see ahead clearly, such as at corners or when a wall, fence or hedge may be restricting the view.
- Slow down around corners and bends, as your scooter could fall over if you hit a corner at high speed.
- Pay attention to the surface of the street you are on, as slippery, uneven or loose gravel surfaces can damage your scooter and also give you less control.
- Stay at a slow pace when around pedestrians, and slow down and brake with plenty of time when coming to a crossing. The limit is four miles an hour on footpaths and pavements, but this is even too fast when you are around lots of people.
- When using a lift, drive in and reverse out; don’t try to turn around while in the lift.
- Don’t overload the scooter with your shopping as too much extra weight can make your mobility scooter unstable, which could lead to it falling when driving.
- Remember always to turn the mobility scooter off when you get off it, and it is no longer in use, as your body can knock the controls or they can be caught on clothing, leading to a collision.
- Make sure you are seen by attaching reflective strips to the frame of the scooter and wearing a high visibility jacket. This is very important during the winter months, and if your scooter has no lights.
- Pedestrians have the right of way when you are driving on the footpath or pavement and be courteous if you would like them to move.
- If you take your mobility scooter on the road, you should follow the Highway Code and drive on the left-hand side, and you cannot use bus lanes or cycle tracks.
- When using your mobility scooter on the road, you should obey all traffic lights and road signals, and have your headlights and rear lights on when driving at night.
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