Mobility scooters on the pavement - are they dangerous?
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A pedestrian hazzard?
I'm all for the old folk having their freedom to get out and about. I'm sure for them the mobility scooter is a godsend but I just wish some of them would remember that they're not on a race track!
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I've just come back from the shops and had a lucky escape having nearly been run down by one of these mobility scooters you see all over the place these days. These things are a becoming a real menace to pedestrians!
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Visitor |
| 31-7-2010 | davola I agree that some people using mobility scooters are less than careful but they are usually a necessity for them. Cycling is a choice. | anonymous |
| 31-7-2010 | if I have to ride my bike on the road the should drive their mobility scooters on the road! | davola |
| 27-5-2010 | I fully agree with you. It is getting really dangerous , particularly here on the south coast. I really think this whole mobility scooter issue should be looked and speed limits applied ! A lot of them dont appear to be disabled but are just using them as cars...parking up and walking into the shops. I dont believe they are legal on the road as motorised vehicles should be taxed. I actually saw the police pull one over on a 40mph road | suzy2576p |
| 30-4-2010 | I saw one old geezer swerving all over the place on his mobility scooter, obviously been down the pub, can you get done and banned from driving one of these things? | Rider of the Apocalypse |
| 30-4-2010 | An old man on a mobility scooter was annoyed that me and my 4 year old son were walking on the same pavement and we stopped a few times to look at the flowers and read the door numbers. I was shocked when the man aimed his scooter at my son and said "get out of the way - you are a blooming nuisance". I had to move to protect my son from being run over. When I first saw the man I said hello and apologised for us being perhaps in his way - and then we get threatened like that! Shocking. | Julia |
| 26-4-2010 | I agree with your sentiments. Today I had a narrow escape as I crossed using the green man, suddenly, against ever rule of basic common sense, this guy came from my left full speed across me, totally ignoring my right of way, luckily I saw him coming and stepped back, It's my understanding that many pedestrians have already been hurt by these scooters, but no one has actually been ki11ed yet, =====i'm old myself, so being hit by that guy would have almost certainly have ki11ed me , and no doubt led to the introduction of some safety rules for those maniacs, .....because thats what it will take, a death , because this is yet another Titanic type situation; Only after the iceberg has been hit, and people have drowned, will the lifeboats be provided. | Lodger |
| 07-3-2010 | I'm young disabled & depend on my mobility scooter.
Your comments are valid, but please note these facts:
* mobility scooters are legal on th pavement at 4mph
* mobility scooters are legal on th road at 8mph
* most people react to an oncoming scooter or wheelchair by jumping in front of it. Really.
Very much like cats and rabbits do to cars. Irrespective of speed or logic.
* people tend to walk in zig-zags, anyway, so are difficult to overtake.
NB. I'm careful, polite and travel with a cute dog.
I often stop & chat with people who return my smile.
I also get glared at by others who jumped in front of me to avoid me.
(why? go ask a cat or a rabbit)
I also get beeped at a lot for just being on th road. Do they think I chose to have MS & lose my car? 8mph feels too slow for me as well for th road (& th scooter will slow itself down down hill) .
Hope this helps. | shanti |
| 10-2-2010 | soozy, have you considered how elderly people who have never driven an ordinary car would suddenly be able to drive a modified car after, say, having a stroke?
The average walking speed of an adult is 3mph; those using mobility scooters on the pavement are not allowed to do more than 4mph; if there is alot of foot traffic then to be sensible they would keep to the same speed. These things do have a speed control, you know!
As you can see from the regulations I posted below, the scooters capable of doing 4 - 8mph are only allowed to do so on the roads; quite fast enough for someone not capable of driving a car. Obviously they have to be choosy about the roads they use and keep out of the way of normal traffic. | grumpyoldwoman |
| 09-2-2010 | did the people who use mobility scooters walk at speeds of 4 to 8 mph when their legs were ok?.. I doubt it. So why do they have to drive at that speed now. They are only used to help them get around now they can no longer walk so why not manufacture them to go at a normal walking speed. Cars can be modified for disabled people if they need to get around faster. | soozy |
| 09-2-2010 | That c**t Hicks calls me a saddo. At least I don"t post lenghty dialougue from the department of transport like grumpyoldwoman. That is what I call petty-minded ! | Howler spotter |
| 09-2-2010 | Extracts from the Department for Transport's website;
"Class 3
Mechanically propelled invalid carriages that are constructed or adapted to be capable of exceeding a speed of 4mph but incapable of exceeding a speed of 8mph on the level under its own power (generally powered wheelchairs and other outdoor vehicles including scooters intended for use on roads/highways). They must be fitted with a device capable of limiting the maximum speed to 4mph for use when travelling on footways. The unladen weight must not exceed 150kgs. These are required to be registered with DVLA."
"Class 3 invalid carriages need to be registered for road use, be licensed in the "disabled" taxation class and display a nil duty tax disc. Unlike ordinary cars, invalid carriages do not need to provide evidence of VED exemption when licensing in the disabled class. Also, they are exempt from paying the first registration fee and are not required to display registration plates."
"In order to register and license a class 3 invalid carriage the user will need to complete form V55/5 (for used vehicles) or V55/4 (for new vehicles) - and take or send it to their nearest DVLA local office"
"Should I have insurance?
Although it is not a legal requirement, it is strongly advised to have insurance. Suitable schemes are not too expensive and are available to cover your personal safety, other people’s safety and the value of the vehicle." | grumpyoldwoman |
| 09-2-2010 | Back to a very early comment on this but if they go on the road, they would require insurance, a licence, road tax and an MOT (of sort) They are not allowed on the road and YES people can and have been ran down by them.
I got knocked down not to long ago and ended up breaking my ankle is 2 places.....
My mother is disabled and refuses to use one. instead she has a standard wheel chair and is very thoughtful to other path way users | Splodge |
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