Mobility scooters

I've got one. Haven't used it much yet but it's going to be useful soon I think. I'm in a quiet country area so hopefully won't cause any problems.

If everyone was like you there wouldn’t be any problem ?

(That sounds really sarcastic in print and I do actually mean it sincerely?)

I try to be very aware of other pedestrians when out with my scooter. Narrow pavements often mean I will wait until those coming towards me have passed. When people (and that is often), step aside or even into the road to let me pass I always smile and thank them.

I have NEVER used to the hooter on any of these machines, If I am behind someone blocking the pavement ahead, I will slow or call out 'Excuse me'. Somehow seems rude to hoot them. As with driving I try to look ahead. My maximum speed is 4 mph. Perhaps some sort of Doctors letter of competency of the proposed user could be in place. I did pay out for an insurance scheme for the first couple of years that I had one, but it was a lot of money and I could not work out what it was actually buying me.

Obviously, the much bigger models which go up to 8 mph are able to to use the road, and I believe the do have to have some sort of registrations and insurance.

Where I live there are a great number of people who use these scooters. I can only say that I have never heard of or seen any sort of accident involving them. I do know that some people on these scooters could have a lesson in politeness, as some do just think they can plough ahead regardless of everyone else. But these are a small minority.

I don’t know what the answer is. I think mobility scooters are a real lifeline for many but I also think pedestrians should be able to walk the pavements safely.

It’s poured with rain today and the mobility scooters with their coverings have been out in force where I live. I walked into town and several times had to step into the road because scooters coming in opposite directions took up the whole pavement. At one point where the pavement narrows there was even a standoff where neither would give way.

It would have been funny if a mum with a buggy and a walking toddler hadn’t had to walk into the road to get past.

It’s not the scooters themselves is it? Here it’s the number of them and, dare I say, the lack of awareness that older people often have of what is going on around them. If you’re not fit to drive anymore you’re probably a danger on the pavement ?

Pantglas2 - the problem arises when you simply cannot walk that far. I would love to be able to do what your dad does.
I have a class 2 mobility scooter, and to get the insurance, I had to demonstrate awareness of safety. I agree that insurance should be mandatory.
I would also like to see some regulation of sales and advice - but that is not on this government's agenda.

Although I can no longer walk in the countryside as I would wish, I can go on some paths on my scooter, and feel some connection to the places I have loved all my life.

I asked my late father many years ago if he would like a mobility scooter as he was housebound,his reply was “Not bloody likely”…

I think one of the biggest problems with scooters and electric wheelchairs is that they are silent. My husband was lethal in his electric wheelchair, he would whizz silently frightening people he passed who hadn’t heard him!

Sadly, there. are so many different brands of scooter out there that simply are not fit for purpose. People are allowed to buy one that is often too small for their weight and stature. which makes them top heavy and very unstable. unfortunately there seems to be no guidelines applied to design and manufacture.
My late father had his driving licence withdrawn due to having dementia - he was devastated but took himself off to the local dealer and purchased a mobility scooter which fortunately, was suitable. He loved it and going out on in game him a whole new purpose, he even admitted to seeing things that we often miss when driving a car.
After he died we donated the scooter to BLESMA who collected it, serviced it and gave it to a disabled ex-service person.

Well, I am 'Mum'!!! Nothing whatsoever to do with my AC whether or not I use a mobility scooter - although as my mobility scooter decreased they did encourage me to consider this.

Have used one now for about six years, absolutely brilliant. Gives me a normal life. I can go to all my groups locally on this wonderful little machine. My local AC folds it into her car so I can join them on wonderful days out.

Just been to very large local Tesco this morning, always lower speed when inside a store. Brilliant.

My current one 'lives' in my garage. Last year I decided to get rid of my car, although am keeping my driving licence. I never take this on the road, it is a pavement model, when friends stay some of them hire a scooter whilst they are here. As soon as you let go of the tiller they come to a complete standstill, so do not see how they can cause an accident. Do get some small children darting around, but then I just go very much slower. Have never hit one yet.

I have also, very recently, purchased a small power chair, which I hope will enable me to go on buses, etc. Will be taking that with me for a trip next weekend involving three trains - thanks to help from wonderful Rail Passenger Assistance.

Without these modern machines, I would be, very largely,housebound.

For the record, I never hit anybody.

Any speed is dangerous when the thing that hits you is a big hard metal thing. Mob scoots and users should be regulated.

Caleo, 8 miles an hour is quite fast if you hit somebody, especially a child. Yes, I agree, proper training should be given.

Germanshepherdsmum, that is awful and a very good reason for these things to be properly regulated.

Icanhandthemback, I have used a 8mph mob scoot a lot and I can tell you for a fact that everyone including brainy people needs actual training in how and when to use the brakes, not just the trigger. I was not trained and I had to learn from experience. Not good.

The mother of a friend of ours managed to drive off the edge of a cliff whilst walking the dog. She didn’t survive.

My Mum used one and found herself stranded when a van was straddling the pavement. She tried to pass it on the road and as she went down the bump on the kerb, the safety feature to stop the scooter came on. She couldn't get it started again. Fortunately, I was worried about her being out of the scooter so drove round to find her and was able to get her started again. She never went out on it again.
Another elderly person I know with cognitive problems drove off the platform at the railway station as a train was coming in. He was taken to hospital but died a week later.
I think motability scooters are wonderful in the right hands but are really dangerous in the wrong ones. How you get around that is a mystery to me.

MissAdventure

Unless someone lacks capacity, then it's up to them.

People who lack capacity don't always realise it.
They need to be tested. I agree people are trapped in their houses but scooters can also be a menace. I know of two very dangerous incidents that were practised daily until the person was reported.
One a grandmother taking her grandchild to school sitting on her knee on the mobility scooter, up a steep extremely busy hill on the pavement among all the parents and children.
The other a chap who used the white line on the middle of the road as his guide and went to the pub each evening he certainly zigzag going home again on a busy road with frequent Double-decker buses.

The larger ones are driven on the narrow pavements in my nearby town as well - pedestrians simply have to step into the road. Some scooter drivers are an absolute menace.

What made we think of this?

youtu.be/w1nb_T1JKps

Oh dear, n that case 4mph is too fast. Scooters on footpaths really shouldn’t be able to go faster than a pedestrian. I guessed a 4mph as an average walking speed but obviously it’s not. Scooters overtake on footpaths all the time.

Only today I was beeped aggressively by a man who wanted me to step into the road so that he could go past. And I’m quite a brisk walker.

And I’m afraid the larger ones do go on the pavements around here, whether they’re supposed to or not.

No if you have a small scooter to go on the footpath it does 4 miles an hour and you can’t change it to 8. The 8 mile an hour ones are large ones and wouldn’t be allowed on the footpath, nor can they change them to 4 miles an hour.

I’m afraid anybody can buy one of those scooters not through Motability though, but they’re there to buy, The ones on the road have to pay road tax, I’m not sure whether bikes pay tax but there again they’re doing the same thing using the road so they probably will be. Mines very small and I’m only allowed on footpaths and I’m very careful of other people too. I have been in extreme pain for the last 40 years and very glad of mine, I can get off it and go in small shop with the help of a walking stick but that’s extremely painful I get my shopping on the Internet. I think they should only be allowed for disabled people and yes I have seen them flying about there’s one lives near me.

My dad still walks within a couple of miles of his home (paper shop, pub and local funerals) and still drives a car for bigger shops- don’t stop walking daily is the key to not having to use a mobility scooter.

My last post wasn't aimed at you, Uninvitedme. You definitely need to use the available speed to safely cross some roads.

But 4mph is still way too fast when there are pedestrians and other obstacles to be safely negotiated. Some mobility scooter drivers, though hopefully a minority, seem oblivious to that!

I have a small fold up mobility scooter only usable on a footpath and I have to cross the roads but a lot quicker than if I was walking across them.

Daftbag, the 8mph scooters must be set for max 4mph for pavement use. The controls let the user do this simple adjustment.