Mobility scooters are for old people who cannot drive a car any more but who need mobility?
Therefore by definition their driving abilities are no longer up to the standard required for an ordinary licence. But by how much are these permitted to fall short of car-driving standards and still be allowed on the road at all?
I started to wonder about this earlier today when I passed an old boy on a mobility scooter happily driving on the wrong side of a main road. Not crawling along the gutter even, but right out in the traffic lane.
Perhaps he had just returned from a trip to America.
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as long as you qualify for one you can use one, if you live in the"South " you probably own your own outright! - no tests usually req unless you are registered totally blind.
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I collided with one on a busy, two-lane one-way street a few years ago. The scooter's rider wanted to cross the road at 90° to the traffic, and just trundled off the kerb into the carriageway without looking first.
Thankfully my car only nudged the thing as it stopped, because I'd seen it moving and been covering the brake just in case. I got out of the car to, well, question her sanity I suppose, but she blanked me, intent on continuing across the road. Along with a passing pedestrian I held on to the back of the scooter to stop it driving forwards into the other lane of moving traffic - torquey things, those electric motors at zero rpm.
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>>I held on to the back of the scooter
>> to stop it driving forwards into the other lane of moving traffic - torquey things,
>> those electric motors at zero rpm.
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Blinking heavy as well, hardly surprising given the batteries I suppose; old chap round my way got his stuck in the anti cycling railings on a footpath near Spamcan Towers, I had to manhandle the thing through the gap.
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>> Mobility scooters are for old people who cannot drive a car any more but who need mobility?
They can be used by anyone, young and old alike, who have a disability. They may not have ever driven a car in their life either.
They're probably used by some people just because they're lazy too.
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I used to sell these vehicles 10 years ago and i concur that these are bought by young and old alike and no the clients don't have to be tested.
I always asked 2 questions - where is it going to be stored - for security and for charging the battery.
The other question was "have you ever driven or been a cyclist ?" ie have you got road sense - if the answer was no - they'd only be shown the slower choices
We knew as a company that the vast majority of purchasers are women, they outlive us men - they also were bought up in an era when their husbands wouldn't allow/want them to drive , as they treated their wives as Princesses who diidn't want them hasseled into learmimg to drive
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I know that no licence is required, but people who have observed or encountered any of the obliviously dangerous behaviour exhibited by some of the drivers sometimes suggest that there should be some kind of test or perhaps doctor's certification required.
But on the other hand clearly the point of the scooters is to provide mobility for people who might well be incapable of holding a proper licence.
So there is an inconsistency in the public's view and in the attitude of authority.
Should they be compelled to have insurance? Is it in fact possible to get insurance if your road sense is impaired and have perhaps given up car driving after an accident?
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>>Should they be compelled to have insurance?
>> Is it in fact possible to get insurance ....?
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With no VIN on the scooter and no database for them, what do you hang the insurance on the driver and if it is a shared scooter etc. etc ?
Are you listening jobsworths ?
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Plenty of Insurance available for scooters and strongly recommended.
e.g.
www.help-my-mobility.co.uk/articles/mobility-scooter-insurance.htm
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People who do pass tests, who tick every box, still subsequently turn out to be terrible at it.
5 minutes on britains roads is enough to convince me that having a license doesnt make someone safe or good at driving, tests arent all that. My wife passed in a manual but to see her attempts at driving one, you would think she had never seen a manual before, hence she drives an auto.
You could insist on insurance BUT that opens the door to all cyclists needing to be insured too because they often travel at far higher speeds and are a risk to people on foot, perhaps more so - my wife was knocked down at a zebra crossing by a cyclist causing a 5 inch gash in her head and a serious concussion. When I use to cycle my bike was geared to easily do 30 on the flat.
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>> You could insist on insurance BUT that opens the door to all cyclists needing to
>> be insured too
And that would be a problem?
I'll be honest, I think its time that is was the case for insurance on bikes and mobility scooters. (my Dad has one BTW)
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This year we got 2x for my grandparents they do 8mph and they use them on the path mostly set at the slow speed which is reduced by a rotary dial.
However followed my grandad and he's a bit quick on the path for me i did tell him but was met with "I KNOW WHAT IM DOING" so with that i agree with above on some points.
These have road tax which is free and both insured but a handling test would be better when sold new but second hand machines well what chance have we got. :-)
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I have 3rd party on a bicycle. Quite cheap as all members of the CTC (Cyclists Touring Club) and the London Cycling Campaign have it as a benefit of membership.
I think other cycling clubs also offer it.
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If you have householders insurance Third party insurance including liability arising out of use of a bicycle is normally included.
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Spotted one in town earlier today, it's rider/driver was using the floor to carry a big case of Cider....cool.
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Just read that Henry - I want to laugh.
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Same here!
Last edited by: dazarooney on Thu 18 Aug 11 at 15:58
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Mobility scooters - required driving ability? - devonite
