Danger! Mobility Scooter approaching

Published: 09/06/2011

There has been a call for a review of the Road Traffic Act in light of several personal injuries cases involving mobility scooters.

Currently it is not compulsory for mobility scooter drivers to have insurance, or even a licence. But a study by the Department of Transport last year saw 61% of people surveyed believe “mobility scooter users should have insurance like motorists do”, 78% thought “that people who want to use a mobility scooter should have training before starting to use one” and 81% agreed drivers “should take an eye test”.¹

While there are no official statistics on the number of accidents caused by mobility scooters, there are more and more incidents coming to light, often resulting in young children and elderly people getting injured.

Two year old Madison McNair suffered gashes to her face, neck and legs after being knocked down and dragged along the pavement by a 70-year-old woman driving a mobility scooter. The woman was completely oblivious to the tangled toddler.

In 2009, 90-year-old woman died after being hit on the pavement by a mobility scooter. Lillian Macey was on holiday in the Isle of Wight suffered leg injuries at the hands of a 76-year-old male driver and died two days later in hospital.

In both cases, no further action could be taken as mobility scooters are not classed as motor vehicles therefore making drivers exempt, by law, from prosecution for a motoring offence.

However, there are fears a change in the law could restrict vulnerable users who rely on their mobility scooter to keep their independence. Compulsory insurance could result in unaffordable expenses, confining elderly people to their homes.

Sources
¹Department of Transport: Public attitudes towards mobility scooters, January and March 2010
Law Gazette

Content correct at time of publication