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Scooters - accidents waiting to happen
As the Government embarks on a review of their use, Helen Smith says it’s high time scooters and their owners were subject to more regulation
Driver who killed pensioner in mobility scooter hit-and-run has never been traced…
Police powerless to prosecute hit-and-run pensioner who left girl, 2, seriously injured in mobility scooter collision…
Grandmother dies after being knocked down by hit-and-run mobility scooter.
These are just a few scooter headlines making the news over the past year. Unfortunately a small minority of bad drivers are giving mobility scooter users a bad name. This is not helped by the fact that anyone can just go out and buy a scooter or powered wheelchair without an eye test, a driving test or purchasing any kind of insurance. Currently the only requirement is for mobility vehicle users to register with the DVLA – a pointless exercise in my opinion when there is no requirement to even display a number plate. There is also very little redress if anyone is caught driving badly or dangerously. In fact, the law used to prosecute drunk users is an Act from 1872 “drunk in charge of a carriage” so some form of update is well overdue.
Accidents involving scooters are increasing and both national and local papers are full of mobility scooter incidents. I have myself been involved in such an accident when an elderly lady on an enormous yellow scooter forgot how to break and drove into me and my mum in the supermarket queue. Being in a wheelchair I was OK but my mum suffered severe bruising to her leg.
I was therefore pleased to hear that the Department for Transport has announced a consultation on proposed changes to the laws governing the use of powered mobility vehicles and powered wheelchairs, as I believe that there needs to be some kind of basic driving and eyesight test and at the very least third party insurance. The consultation which ends on 28 May is asking for people’s views on possible changes to existing legislation. The main areas that the consultation is looking at are the legal classification; design standards and safety features; possible reforms relating to vehicle users including training and fitness to drive, insurance and the registration of mobility vehicles.
Anyone who has borrowed a scooter from Shopmobility would have had an assessment and many also do SUPA (Scooter User Proficiency Award) tests for people who have their own scooters. I would expect if a test was brought in it would be something similar to this. I personally would be happy to take a test and have insurance as I’d rather pay a small amount now than risk being sued by someone who claims I'd run into them.
This is a view supported by Janet Sutton who is a trustee of Mobilise and Chairperson of Shopmobility Stockport. She said: “Due to an increase in accidents involving scooter users, some of which have unfortunately been fatal, scooter users need to be able to show their fitness to drive, including vision, concentration levels and medication and that they have a vehicle type that is suitable for them and their needs.”
However, some people feel that more legislation is unnecessary and it could reduce someone’s mobility if they failed the test. I recently had a lively debate with Brian Coleman who is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden on BBC Radio 2.
He said: “The Government and voluntary sector just want to introduce rules and regulations.”
However,
I think in this instance they are actually required. If someone has
very poor eyesight and is unable to control the machine it’s not right
that they are able to injure someone and then drive
off with no redress.
pavement scooters/ road scooters
Class 2 scooters are pavement only vehicles, with a maximum speed of 4mph. I see no reason to license these, although perhaps an eye test would be justified.
Class 3 scooters can travel up to speeds of 8 mph to allow them to travel on the roads at speeds similar to a cyclist. Many disabled people living in rural areas need to travel on the road due to a lack of pavement so these faster scooters are needed. However, the amount of elderly users who abuse them by travelling at the higher speed on pavements is a big problem in my area and needs to be addressed. For these more powerful machines I believe the DVLA should insist on a test and issue a licence subject to 3rd party insurance.
Mobility Scooters
Refused the higher powered model which could do speeds of 10kph & went with the 6k or in old English 4MPH.
Never in the 6 years I've had it have I needed or wished for anything faster. 4mph is a brisk walking pace, so why is it necessary to have such high powered mobility scooters? Indeed Shopmobility may well test/instruct their customers, but in my shopping centre the deadliest and the fastest are their users.
I was stationary on the pavement at a corner of a road the other day waiting to cross by a dropped kerb (and I'm not ageist being 63 myself) and an elderly woman, not seeing me due to a hedge skidded 10-15ft before she could stop.
All she could say was, 'I wanted to cross there!' I responded, Well, you can if the way is clear and perhaps that's why there is a pavement limit of 4mph - just think if there'd been a small child there.'
She just drove off at the same mad speed. It really is time this issue is tackled otherwise insurance rates for those of us who do try to be responsible will soar & soar,