disabled riders on scooters

[marvinmoon]

what is this law on these electric scooters driving on the road or do they have to keep to the path cos those on the road are peckin my head

[Andyvon]

Why are they 'peckin your head' Marvin?

If someone is disabled and that is the best way they can get around then just give them a bit of time and space and make sure you avoid them. If they have moved onto the road it is for a reason. Any good and mature driver accepts the roads are used by other people and they drive accordingly with other people in mind.

[Toureman]

I think their illegal especially if their "peckin your head" ?

[pauln90]

The only requirement for use of a mobility scooter on the road is that the user be over 14years old.

There are an estimated 250,000 of these scooters in use and in 2004 there were 1200 accidents involving these scooters including the deaths of 8 scooter users who were hit either by a car or lorry.

Despite this there are no requirements for the user to have any training. No rules on eyesight or health checks to see if the user is safe to use the machine.No rules on the maintenance of the machines. And only a relatively small number have any form of insurance.

Used properly I am sure they are a great aid to disabled people but I get a little worried when they creep up behind me in the street and expect me to jump out of their way.I have also had many near misses when they have driven too fast along supermarket aisles.

[Danogbivi]

I am disabled and occaisionally need to use my buggy to get around, but it is against the law to use it on the road, except for crossing over obviously, I am also a driver 4 & 2 wheels and I too find it annoying when I come across idiots driving down the road @ 4mph!

[robber1]

Cat.3 scooters (can do over 5mph) now need a tax disc and third party insurance. The smaller scooters which you may see in supermarkets etc and have three wheels, dont need to do this.