Time to license mobility scooters...?

[whiskyman]

Pavement mobility scooters are restricted to 4mph and don't need to be registered, also don't need indicators etc. Road legal mobility scooters are restricted to 8mph and should be registered with the DVLA and they get issued with a reg number and V5. They have to have indicators and horn and lights etc. If used on the pavement then you are required to engage the slower restricted speed of 4mph

 

[MattR]

You do not have to be disabled to have a mobility scooter. You do not have to qualify to get one. Mostly they are purchased by the person using it at their own expense. I use one because I have lower body vascular issues which meant that I had a femoral artery bypass on my right leg. Blood pressure in both legs is 60% of normal. If I walk more that 250 mts I get claudication causing numbness and extreme tiredness in the legs.

I have a mobility scooter which breaks down into easily to handle lumps that can go into my car. I cannot hop on and off pavements because of curbs and travelling on the road at 4 mph would be foolhardy.

Mrs B and I own e-bikes which we use when in Spain and France because they have good cycle route and Spain extremely wide roads in towns.

Travelling on the roads in the UK is a dangerous business. I worked 0n the h9ghways for 40 years and know what can happen. A bit like the Police, Fire, Ambulance and recovery guys you see things that cannot be unseen.

Tolerance is needed by all on all side.

There are many hidden disabilities that are helped by using mobility scooters but there are any growing number of users that are not disabled beyond their laziness or entitlement.

Unfortunately, there also appear to be a growing number of disabled users who think they're entitled to barge people out of the way by bumping into others or driving over their feet - no apology offered. I've experienced it twice recently... the last time could have resulted in the driver having to retrieve their scooter keys from the far end of the shop - luckily for her, someone else berated her first and she slinked off .. no apology but she was less cocky.

 

[MattR]

Pavement mobility scooters are restricted to 4mph and don't need to be registered, also don't need indicators etc. Road legal mobility scooters are restricted to 8mph and should be registered with the DVLA and they get issued with a reg number and V5. They have to have indicators and horn and lights etc. If used on the pavement then you are required to engage the slower restricted speed of 4mph

Why shouldn't they be registered?

 

[pappajohn]

Couldn't agree more! The things are silent and deadly even at 10 mph

As whiskey man says ...
Road going versions (class 3) have a max speed of 8mph....although on a steep decent they may reach 10mph but that's it.
If used on a footpath the 4mph speed must be selected.
Class 2 scooters are restricted to 4mph.
Class 3 should be registered with DVLA but number plates aren't compulsory.
Just like mobility cars the class 3 require tax but it's free.
Insurance isn't compulsory.

 

[whiskyman]

Why shouldn't they be registered?

8 mph ones are, 4 mph ones aren't, I don't know why they shouldn't be.

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[chrisgreen]

There are many hidden disabilities that are helped by using mobility scooters but there are any growing number of users that are not disabled beyond their laziness or entitlement.

Unfortunately, there also appear to be a growing number of disabled users who think they're entitled to barge people out of the way by bumping into others or driving over their feet - no apology offered. I've experienced it twice recently... the last time could have resulted in the driver having to retrieve their scooter keys from the far end of the shop - luckily for her, someone else berated her first and she slinked off .. no apology but she was less cocky.

you pick on women then bigman?.

 

[dulvil]

Our pub regular ,not very able can have 3 or4 pints then mobility scooter home, apparently legal

 

[Plumb]

There are many hidden disabilities that are helped by using mobility scooters but there are any growing number of users that are not disabled beyond their laziness or entitlement.

Unfortunately, there also appear to be a growing number of disabled users who think they're entitled to barge people out of the way by bumping into others or driving over their feet - no apology offered. I've experienced it twice recently... the last time could have resulted in the driver having to retrieve their scooter keys from the far end of the shop - luckily for her, someone else berated her first and she slinked off .. no apology but she was less cocky.

Mobility scooters are no worse than a person pushing a perambulator! Out of the way or else you'll be chopped of at the knees

 

[pappajohn]

but there are any growing number of users that are not disabled beyond their laziness or entitlement

I had to state my disability before the shop would finalise the sale.

 

[pappajohn]

Mobility scooters are no worse than a person pushing a perambulator! Out of the way or else you'll be chopped of at the knees

Perambulator .......which time warp did you fall into?

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[chrisgreen]

I had to state my disability before the shop would finalise the sale.

That was to get the VAT relief.

 

[hja]

Mine is licensed with dvla and insured. It has two speeds, 8 mph for road and 4mph for pavement. i didn’t have to prove any disability. OH recently bought a mobility scooter with max speed 4 mph, no license required.
You may have to go through some process of proving disability if you want to reclaim VAT.
biggest issue we find is lack of dropped curbs or pavement suddenly disappearing and causing you to go in road. Many of our towns are not very disability friendly, yet there are more disabled people around who believe that they have as much right as anyone else to live their lives freely.

 

[pappajohn]

That was to get the VAT relief.

No, second hand scooter via a local mobility shop.

 

[MattR]

I had to state my disability before the shop would finalise the sale.

The problem seems to be when folk sell on their scooters or their families do. No or few checks in the second hand market.

 

[pappajohn]

biggest issue we find is lack of dropped curbs

Dropped curbs all over in Scarborough.
Unfortunately the footpaths are the problem.
Once you leave the town center the footpaths appear to have been laid by the Romans and haven't been maintained since they scurried back to Rome in the 4th century.

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[MattR]

If many mobility scooters are registered, is there any way to identify the vehicle, such as bum plates?

 

[Just smiffy]

Hmmm… what category does this fall into then..? Top speed 15mph (32downhill) 50 mile range and throttle control… I go on roads and paths…

 

[MattR]

Hmmm… what category does this fall into then..? Top speed 15mph (32downhill) 50 mile range and throttle control… I go on roads and paths…

View attachment 654055

Have you got a hi-viz jacket with your registration number or plates on it so you can be identified if you exceed the speed limit etc?

 

[Plumb]

Perambulator .......which time warp did you fall into?

My old headmaster caught me prowling around the classroom, and I always remember him looking over his monocle saying when you've finished your perambulation that was in 1863 ! Those words have remained ever since

 

[MattR]

My old headmaster caught me prowling around the classroom, and I always remember him looking over his monocle saying when you've finished your perambulation that was in 1863 ! Those words have remained ever since

You've done well to reach 173 years old or so

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[Madcaravanner]

Couldn't agree more! The things are silent and deadly even at 10 mph. In China they all seemed to have some form of buzzer which works as soon as it moves - at least you get some warning even if you don't know exactly where it's coming from!
As for the really fast ones which you can buy online, I thought these were still illegal on public roads and especially pavements. I thought that only the ones you can hire from local authorities could be used on pavements. Or am I out of date again?

For MOBILITY scooters
The speed on the pavement is supposed to be 4mph MAX irrexpective of hire or ownership - you're thinking of Electric Scooters with two Wheels
the speed on the road 8mph MAX

to own one you are supposed to have a V5 and registration and a driving licence

Note SUPPOSED TO

I am a previous user but by sheer bloody mindedness began using an electric bike again - we are insured on those

 

[buttons]

What grumpy cyclists are you thinking of?

Mobility scooters might be regulated but that doesn't stop some exceeding the authorized speeds or hitting young children and driving off...

Never yet seen a mobility scooter in any country lane Matty. Plenty of cyclists overdosed on energy drinks frightening the horses but never a mobility scooter.

 

[EuroTrotters]

We met a family from Farnham in Benidorm. The only time I’ve holidayed all-inclusive/full board They went everywhere on mobility scooters, the children rode shotgun.

In the restaurant, they would go to the freezer before even getting starters and raid several of each ice cream tubs.

Then when they left, after stuffing their faces, they would leave them melting to waste with others being left without desserts as there would be nothing left. We nicked maned them the FFF’s (fat family from Farnham).

Back on their mobility scooters the next day.

All of them obese.

Not wishing to offend anyone on here who struggles with weight issues, as we Cary many extra kilos. But at least we walk.

There are far too many people with mobility issues who struggle with transport. Often being refused mobility cars, whilst far too many people abuse the system.

Short answer is, yes, there should some kind of restrictions and if the only mobility vehicle available to those who don’t really need a car was the one in this photo, there would be far few takers.

 

[denisejoe]

For MOBILITY scooters
The speed on the pavement is supposed to be 4mph MAX irrexpective of hire or ownership - you're thinking of Electric Scooters with two Wheels
the speed on the road 8mph MAX

to own one you are supposed to have a V5 and registration and a driving licence

Note SUPPOSED TO

I am a previous user but by sheer bloody mindedness began using an electric bike again - we are insured on those

Wrong all electric scooters are illegal except in areas where they have a trial on and only the trial scooters are legal

 

[Gina M]

Hmmm… what category does this fall into then..? Top speed 15mph (32downhill) 50 mile range and throttle control… I go on roads and paths…

View attachment 654055

not seen one of them before to be honest.

Gina

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[Lofty1]

The 8 mph mobility scooter can be driven on duel carriage ways,BUT must have a rear orange flashing lamp, I dare anyone to try it!

 

[MattR]

Never yet seen a mobility scooter in any country lane Matty. Plenty of cyclists overdosed on energy drinks frightening the horses but never a mobility scooter.

Strange. I've seen them in country lanes as well as charging through shopping centres scattering anyone in their way. I wonder if they had overdosed on Sanatogen

 

[Madcaravanner]

Wrong all electric scooters are illegal except in areas where they have a trial on and only the trial scooters are legal

NO only the two wheel scooters are illegal

MOBILITY scooters have a V5 class of their own

 

[Plumb]

Strange. I've seen them in country lanes as well as charging through shopping centres scattering anyone in their way. I wonder if they had overdosed on Sanatogen

Nah laudenham ! it's like LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS

 

[Engineer999]

I despair of you lot sometimes; perhaps those of you who take the proverbial out of the few extreme cases that hit the headlines would consider the depressing implications of reduced mobility on one’s mental health and put yourself in their shoes?
Mobility scooters, not the 2 wheeled toys, can and do provide a massive wellbeing and independence boost to many thousands of folk who would otherwise be reliant on wheelchairs and carers or just stuck in their homes.
Have some compassion for the genuine users, who find these a lifeline and a means of continuing a meaningful life.
There are people in charge of normal vehicles that do not have the capacity to control them, let alone mobility scooters so let’s keep this in context. No amount of legislation will control those who cannot or will not conform to expected behavioural norms - just look at all the uninsured, unlicensed untaxed drivers the Police chase round the country to make TV programmes for channel 5. They get the licence they haven’t got endorsed.
What realistic chance does further burocracy have in controlling this minority without impinging yet further constraints on a section of society who’s already been dealt a poor hand?
My wife uses a class 3 mobility scooter due to its additional stability over smaller models which helps reduce the jarring which aggravates her spinal condition. The vehicle is DVLA registered and we have 3rd party liability insurance. Despite its size and weight it fits legally, in knock down form, into the MH garage and enables her to enjoy some of the freedoms that many of you seem to take for granted.
Nuff said.

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