Mobility scooters .......on the road!

Anniebach, A car is a thousand times worse for the environment than a mobility scooter.

It wont be long before all road vehicles are electric ones.

Gabriella, why should I be banned from using a road?

Gabriella, these are all problems that should be addressed by policy makers. They are not the only problems. Disabled people need to get out and about with some independence.

nuisence nuisance

How to fit all road users on our busy and often congested roads?
Lorries may not see an 8mph scooter.
Scooters could not possibly use cycle tracks as cyclists usually pedal much faster than 8mph which is the top speed for roadworthy mobility scooters. How could a cyclist safely overtake?
Some mobility scooter users are not road savvy and many (but obvs not all) are elderly and have no idea of the Highway Code guidelines which roads users should know.
They ought to be banned from roads.
I also agree that they're a blooming nuisence in shops as are double buggies and people standing in groups chatting which impede your progress on pavements or when shopping.

I do worry about a lovely local man. I have seen him several times on the 'rat run' road between our villages - no lights on his scooter, plus he always wears a grey mac. Luckily I saw him with his daughter the other day and said I have a spare reflective waist coat if he'd like it. He's in a dream world following the death of his wife, such a nice man.

Kittylester, I do drive it on carriageways only where they are quiet, or if I can cross safely. I agree they are unsuited to busy main roads. Quiet suburban streets are okay if you drive carefully with attention to the Highway Code.

PS since I began using a mobility scooter I found one or two problems about handling the machine and using public roads and paths. Despite the low top speed it should be necessary to pass a test and be licensed to use one whether or not it's a road-legal mobility scooter.

Galen, I hope you enjoy the bigger scooter that is legal to go on the road. I changed from a small one to a big one almost immediately mainly because of the suspension on the big one as I have osteoporosis.

I agree with Nanaandgrampy and use my scooter for the reasons she uses hers. I also like to go the park with my dog.

I was crossing a relatively quiet one way street, looking only one way, when I’m nearly run over by one of those bloody things, and given the most foul mouthed load of abuse! He was in the middle of the road, going in the wrong direction.

There needs to be a rule who can use a mobility scooter, recently in town we had a man who every day went from the care home to the shops for a newspaper on his scooter.
Problem was he had his oxygen tank on the scooter wore the mask and drove diagonally across the traffic lights.
I don’t think the staff should have allowed him to do that.

What is needed is a third lane on all roads for these scooters and bicycles. The problem is that most roads are constructed on existing tracks which have been used for millenia. They are just not wide enough to allow for a separate lane for these vehicles. With more and more of them on our roads, something needs to be done. All of these people should take some sort of test before they are allowed out on them. As for the e-scooters, the law here seems rather vague. If they are not legal on roads or pavements, why is this not made clear when someone buys one?

Registered disabled doesn’t actually exist now does it? Except maybe for registered blind and hopefully they are not driving a scooter?

No you don’t have to be registered disabled Gonegirl and not all scooter users are fat, lazy or bad drivers. As a scooter user I take exception to that to be honest !

Sometimes driving on the road is the only option to get from a to b. Firstly, there are people parking part on the pavement meaning the only way to get round is on a road,

Secondly, even new estates which have some drop kerbs do not have them all in the right place. I visited an outside shopping centre where there were drop kerbs until I got to a junction where there wasn’t . No choice but to back track , use the road which involved a really busy junction .

As a long time driver I have no problem using my scooter on the road but I agree if you have never driven then I see no reason why a road test shouldn’t be compulsory .

I've said it before and I'll say it again-anyone who drives a vehicle which has power should have to have a licence, registration plates and insurance. Also, cyclists and horse riders should need the same.

I’m waiting to get a road scooter. My small one which I’ve used for years won’t take the hills up and down to the shops. Also there is a dearth of dropped curbs in this town.
I hold a valid driving licence and am very disabled.

These scooters -known as e- scooters are illegal on roads and pavements why is nobody taking action?
One young woman was killed in S London recently in a collision with, I think a lorry, but they could as easily kill a pedestrian

There’s a women here uses an electric scooter not a mobility scooter but like a very big kids scooter but electric she whizzes around town in and out of shops it really is an accident waiting to happen

I need one as my heart is failing . The time will soon come when there has to be a test before just anybody can use one.

I've seen accidents caused by the ones allowed on the road too. It seems insane not to make the road users take a test to pass them as fit enough to be out in the traffic.
Also think cyclist should too - but that's another issue.

No you don’t have to be registered disabled to use one well at least let me rephrase that there are many people here who are not, I have seen young lads with their girls friends on their knees I ve also seen a man get off and literally run into a store after someone. The other day a young lady was taking her dog for a walk while she sat on one It had a very long lead which went right across the path as I came up to this stumbling block she literally jumped out of the scooter and went over to wind the lead in to let me past My next door neighbour same age as my youngest daughter drives one everywhere with always a fag out of her mouth she is very overweight and will get worse with so little exercise and healthcare Her husband uses her mobility scooter to go to the shop for anything they haven’t had delivered I ve also seen the eldest daughter ( about 15/16 ) on it It’s hired from a local dealer but sits there all the time so I guess long term hired with some benefits or other
Don’t get me wrong I think they are wonderful for anyone truly disabled or elderly but a menace when they are used by so many

We have quite a few on the roads here, but then if you saw the state of the pavements you'd understand why!

Do they need road tax?

Depends which class of scooter. 2 or 3.

Class 2 on pavements only unless there is no pavement, or crossing a road speed 4mph.

Class 3 can be used on roads and duel carriage ways, must have a flashing light and must be registered, speed on pavements 4mph, speed on roads 8mph.

They do look rather run. Perhaps when I can't ride my bike anymore.....

No you don’t need a blue badge - you just have to have trouble walking - and this could be temporary or permanent. I’d be amazed if this was ever checked.