Mobility scooters

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....pe-300-000-roads.html

Isn't it now time that before one can become an owner of one of these vehicles, they first need to go through the procedure that a disabled motorist needs to go through before acquiring a Blue-Badge?

Some of these scooters look more like a smaller versions of quad bikes, and are being increasingly used as a convenient A to B vehicle for able bodied persons.

I recently saw one driven on the pavement, towing a small hand made trailer behind it.

[jno]

"I'm not knocking anyone btw"

That's because they leap out of your way.

[shaneystar2]

Lol Jno :)

[gness]

I`m with maidup and joko on this. A friend, who is the sole carer for her mum, was knocked over by our local crazy on a mobility scooter. She had broken bones which have healed badly and has had to meet the cost of extra help in the house with her mum.
Two people I know have them because they are overweight and my neighbour brought down a lovely glass craft display in our library because he likes to show off on his. Lessons and insurance for sure.

[tenrec]

My only reservation is that they do seem to go faster than walking pace on occasions.

[whiskeryron]

I have a class 3 Mobility Scooter & yes it is registered with the local Traffic Authority who issued a free road fund licence to allow it to be driven on the road in this country at 8 mph, if I drive it on the pavement I am legally bound to restrict the speed to 4 mph ( there is a switch to determine either 4 or 8 mph). I pay for annual insurance which at the moment is voluntary. I think this should be made compulsory so that in the event of accidental damage to a person or property or another vehicle, claims can be made just like any other vehicle out there. I would also like it to be made compulsory for cyclists.

WR.

[julia-mag]

Oh yes the 8mph scooters are supposed to be registered. ! I did the correct thing and registered mine with DVLA and they sent me a licence badge to display the first year, but the 2nd year I had to phone them 3 times for a renewal (they are free) and they kept on saying, you don't need to re-apply they are sent out automatically, but the 3rd year no licence renewed again and I waited a full year without it arriving so I wrote a letter again for an up to date one, and now 7 months later I still have not received one or heard from them , what has been the experience of other users who try to get their licence renewed?

[mojay]

the DVLA don't seem to have a clue - each person you speak to gives a different reply or passes it on - I have the same difficulty

Yes mine will reach 8mp, is registered and fully insured too

[ettelloc]

I feel there should be some sort of test for people who wish to use these scooters. Not a test to cpnfirm they need one but to ensure they can control them. My grandma uses one as she is registered disabled and does need to however she is dangerous. Evil kinevil has nothing on her. Speeding round corners on 2 wheels, crashing into bushes, she terrible.

[beso]

They are becoming common in Australia too.

They are only supposed to be allowed to be used by people with a disability but I have seen some diven by people whose only disability is they are fat and lazy. Other seem to think they are a convenient substitute for a bus when travelling to town.

They are supposed to be limited to 100 kg mass which I believe is too high. Towing a trailer would very likely exceed that an hence be illegal. Most of them are far larger than is reasonably required.

THey are supposed to be limited to 10km per hour. I have seen some where the speed limiter has obviously be removed. Even at 10km this is travelling way too fast among pedestrians. I believe they should be limited to brisk walking speed (about 6 km/hr). I would accept them having 10 km /hr when some minimum distance from pedestrians.

They are very quiet and I have had them just apear from behind and rapidly overtake. I certainly could not have walked fast enough to keep up and probably could not have run as fast as it was going (obviously the governor was disabled.

I spoke to the police and they were not even aware of the rules applied to them.

The same riders would probably critise skate boarders for riding on the footpath but I would prefer the reaction time of a young person on a skate weighing a fraction of the mass of a mobility scooter and being driven by a person with slow reactions. At least the skate boarder will leap out of the way at risk to themselves (and probably not get hurt).