Concern over injuries to pedestrians caused by mobility scooters
The debate over the risks posed by mobility scooters seems to have heated up this week. Several newspapers and news websites have been carrying stories with headlines such as “A Mobility Scooter Menace?” Many of these stories draw attention to the unique legal position of mobility scooter users which means that they cannot be prosecuted for dangerous driving under the Road Traffic Act.
Despite being limited to speeds of 4mph on pavements and 8mph on the roads, mobility scooters can still be very dangerous to pedestrians. Last year the Camps blog featured the tragic story of 90-year old Lillian Macey, who had died after having been knocked down by a 76-year old man on a mobility scooter on the Isle of Wight. Another accident involving a mobility scooter hitting a toddler in Doncaster was also featured in the media, especially as the 70-year old scooter user was apparently unaware that she had hit the child, who ended up being dragged along under the scooter for a distance.
More mobility scooters likely to appear on pavements and roads
With stories like these, it is easy to see why many people are concerned about mobility scooters. As obesity rates and life expectancy in the UK continue to increase, it is likely we will see more mobility scooters on the pavements and roads in towns and cities. Balancing the risks to pedestrians and other road users with the rights of the scooter users is likely to be a difficult process. After all, many people rely on their scooters to help them lead an independent life, which they would otherwise be unable to do, due to a number of reasons such as old age, obesity or any number of medical conditions. One possible solution to some of the issues related to mobility scooters is the introduction of testing for all scooter users to ensure they can operate the machines safely without putting other people at risk.
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