An insurance company has come together with charities, mobility retailers and academics to request some government intervention on the sale, use and information given to purchasers when entering into a transaction with mobility scooter retailers. Most importantly, according to those above bodies, for the government to act on, is the need to stop the rise in casualties when using mobility scooters, inadequate infrastructure and the increasing hostility and verbal abuse faced by scooter riders. Scooters are becoming the target for abuse on our pavements and streets instead of the lifelines that they ultimately provide.
Mobility Scooter riders’ well-being
Most scooter riders have had to come by the use of these devices after leading long, active careers and lives. However, complications arising from type 2 diabetes and neuropathy, as well as serious accidents are making the need and use of mobility scooters a more common scene on the pathways and streets. Some have reported having to lift their trouser leg to show those abusing them that they genuinely need a scooter and are not just ‘lazy’. It can be humiliating for mobility scooter users and the need to not let this situation worsen is prevalent among insurance companies, charities and law makers. There are enough physical obstacles faced by riders on the pavements and streets, without social hostility and stigma becoming a challenge for people even when just considering leaving the house.
The figures prove to be a cautionary tale as in 2022 there were 9 fatalities involving mobility scooters. The number in 2023 had almost doubled to 16. Now you must assume that there were probably twice as many mobility scooter riders on our pathways and roads during this time period, but it is worth making an informed choice when choosing the optimum device for yourself. These fatalities may have been caused by not having adequate acceleration, balance or braking at your disposal.
Changing the perception of Mobility Scooters
As has been reported above there is inequality in perception and treatment where these devices and their use is concerned. Institutions such as Wheels for Wellbeing and some universities are calling for a change in how people in charge of a mobility scooter are appreciated. The class 3 scooters are permitted on the road, although many road users are not aware of this rule. All mobility scooters are allowed on the pavement, and no devices are permitted in bicycle lanes. This should be common knowledge amongst all road users now that the use of mobility scooters is naturally on the increase.
Updating the Highway Code
The rules inherent in all road and street use are amassed in the highway code and there are calls coming out to include all mobility scooter users in the ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ which is a framework that was introduced in 2022 to prioritise the safety of the most vulnerable on the roads. That these calls are going unanswered means that mobility scooters remain absent from this guidance and their lives may be at risk and, as well as this, negative perceptions are being reinforced. There are many people, university professors, charities and the CAB who are all making moves to improve the lot of someone in charge of a mobility scooter and it can only be a short time before guidelines are improved for all pavement and road users.