Mobility Scooters, Daily Mail

[Katyloo]

A few days or so ago, something cane up on my mobile, now, I'm 62 and not good on small tech devices. But What I read, quite incensed me, Someone said that Mobility scooter owners should have to go on a course and that we are nit insured. Well. 1. I passed my car test 1st time, 2. I have given up my car for a mobility scooter, because I have admitted that I don't feel fit to drive. 3. I have sought out insurance for my scooter, which includes punctures, break down, and replacement, and third part liability, and there is a DVLA mobility scooter data base for those 8mph Road Scooters, which you should register with. I do wish that people would get their facts right!

[Hidden]

Totally ... 8mph rules , Its because they can go on the road , we are far advanced really in electrical mobility and rules , 💜wish we where like EU we could ride anything electric anywhere....💜

[Badbessie]

Obviously you are very responsible concerning your scooter and so are many others I should add. Sadly there are others that are not. There have been a growing number of incidents where people have been injured due to mobility scooters. Not the road type but the general pavement type used for shopping etc. Sadly many of these are not insured. Recently I rented one whilst away. I was given no instruction except this one goes forward and that's back. In the area I was in at the time many shops had banned scooters do to the number of injuries and damage that had happened. The shops etc had great difficulty getting public liability insurance because so few people riding the scooters have insurance. We are not like the EU where many countries insist that you as an individual have to by law have public liability insurance which would cover accidents by a scooter.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

not seen the daily mail article and feel uncomfortable appearing to defend it but I would have no issue with a test or instruction prior to owning and using one. I have seen some idiots on them driving on the main road with no care or attention for their own lives or other road users and the guilt they may endure.

from what you have said you have done tests before for the car and if I was to ride a motor bike I would expect some further instruction. I think on watchdog they covered it a few years ago with some regions requiring or requesting that people do a basic course including reversing. They recounted many stories of peoples ankles being broken and people operating the scooter getting into bother.

Not having the instruction and knowing about whether it can go on the road is just one thing that people are making mistakes with that can have severe consequences.

[Katyloo]

I do agree with you, as my own Mother had one, she hadn't a clue how to drive it, she even ran over herself with it. Some people in our local village, really do need a course on how to drive them. And also a lot of people are under the impression that they are invincible on these things, I have come across all that you have said, that is why I have chosen to do things properly, I am insured, I have driven a car too so am more aware than others who have never driven. I think insurance should be compulsory, it isn't expensive. I just wish people would be aware of the damage they can do. I just don't want everyone of us tarring with the same brush. Thank you all for your input.

[rosewine]

You sound an extremely responsible person. Unfortunately, not everyone is the same.

When I worked within the elderly there were alot of incidences where one of the elderly clients caused damage and sometimes quite bad accidents whilst driving their mobility scooters and in those cases none of them were insured. In all fairness they did tend to be the ones who had never driven a car. I have myself been driven into on more than one occasion both on the pavement and in shops. I have also had people in scooters suddenly do a U turn in the road in front of me and I have only narrowly avoided them or have come off the pavement and gone right in front of my car. I think it would be good if people could have a short familiarisation course when they purchase them as especially the ones equipped to go on the road can cause quite a bit of damage even going at 8 mph.x