There has been some controversy recently surrounding mobility vehicles. Whereas their development and use has been tremendously beneficial for enabling disabled people access to their own community, there have been accidents involving pedestrians, some of them fatal, and there is now a call for the collection of statistics concerning accidents and their outcomes.
Recent Death of Lillian Macey
This situation has come back into the spotlight after the inquest of a 90-year-old lady who died from her injuries after being knocked down by a scooter driven by a man who was alleged to drive aggressively. Mobility scooter drivers are exempt from prosecution for careless or dangerous driving because their scooters are not classified as a motor vehicle. Consequently the coroner has called for the laws surrounding the use of mobility scooters to be reassessed.
Road Traffic Incidents Involving Mobility Scooters
In June 2010, an elderly man caused four miles of tailbacks when he decided to drive his scooter at 8 miles per hour (mph) along the A12. Police had to put in operation a rolling roadblock until they could get him safely off the dual carriageway. The police issued him with a Section 59 warning which is usually given to drivers who are using their vehicles in an anti-social manner.
This may seem comical but tragedy is always close at hand. In October 2010 an 88-year-old man was killed when his mobility scooter was in collision with a car.
It is thought that more than 300,000 people use mobility scooters and yet the users do not have to pass a test, have any sort of license or insurance. Mobility vehicles with a maximum speed of 8 mph are even legal on any road except motorways, cycle lanes and active bus lanes.
Mobility Scooters and the Law
In the UK there are three classes of mobility vehicle classified as an Invalid Carriage.
- Class 1 is a manual wheelchair without any electrical power.
- Class 2 consists of powered wheelchairs and scooters which are limited to four mph and are only allowed on pavements.
- Class 3 includes powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other vehicles which have a maximum speed of 8 mph with a device to restrict speed on pavements to the mandatory 4 mph. A Class 3 vehicle is not classified as a motor vehicle and the driver does not have to possess a driving license. The vehicles are allowed to use the road, even dual carriageways. They are only forbidden from motorways, cycle lanes and active bus lanes. The driver must follow the Highway Code, the operator must not be under the influence of drink or drugs, their eye sight must reach driving standards and there are some restrictions when driving on the road at night or on dual carriageways such as a flashing amber light. The class 3 vehicle must be registered with the DVLA although no road tax is payable.
Class 3 vehicles can be substantial weighing up to 150 kg unladen and maximum width of 0.85 metres. Class 2 vehicles have a maximum unladen weight of 113.4 kg . A collision with a pedestrian can have serious consequences. However, they afford no protection if in collision with other road vehicles.
Proposals for Changes to Mobility Scooter Use
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) have submitted a paper to the House of Commons Transport Committee Inquiry.
They have various proposals. They certainly feel that mobility scooters should be banned from dual carriageways and want better training for users and a minimum fitness check developed.
They want clearer guidance given to police on the enforcement of road traffic laws to give more consistency of approach. For instance, in some areas mobility scooter operators may be prosecuted for being over the drink driving limit but in other areas this is not considered an option.
They feel there should be consideration given to mobility scooters using cycle and bus lanes.
In particular there should be a method for the development of statistics involving the use of mobility scooters as it is difficult to make sensible suggestions and decisions with little or no data on which to base them.
Further information on the law and guidelines for the use of mobility scooters
The Government publishes guidelines for the use of mobility scooters.
The Department of Transport explains the current law.
Frances Williams - Frances is an Autism specialist with post graduate qualifications but has had to take a career break. She is now a freelance writer. ...
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