PEOPLE who have physical problems that make it hard for them to walk distances, mobile scooters, gophers or buggies are a great way to get to the shops or around town.
People who use or are thinking of using a mobility scooter are advised to follow these simple tips to ensure their safety.
People should ensure a mobility scooter is a safe choice for them.
Driving a mobility scooter requires good hearing, sight, strength, co-ordination, balance and concentration.
Before buying a mobility scooter, people should ask their doctor or occupational therapist to check they can seer and control the mobility scooter, which may weigh up to 110 kilograms when empty; see and hear pedestrians and vehicles; judge distances; recognise hazards and obstacles; keep and shift their balance when travelling over rough terrain or up and down slopes; sit for long periods; concentrate for long periods and still be able to react quickly to sudden changes such as rough ground or crowds; be patient enough to slow down, stop and wait whenever necessary; get in and out of the mobility scooter without falling; and easily get the mobility scooter in and out if its storage place.
If people regularly take medication that makes them drowsy, or if they lack any of the above abilities, a mobility scooter is not a safe option.
However, doctors or occupational therapists will be able to suggest other methods or services.
It is important people choose the right mobility scooter for them.
Inside: If people just want to get around inside their home they should choose a three-wheeled scooter.
These are only safe for indoor use – they can be unstable on rougher surfaces outside, where they may topple over.
Outside: For travelling to the shops or to get around Wagin, chose a four-wheeled mobility scooter that weighs up to 110 kilograms when empty.
People do not need a licence, registration or insurance for scooters weighing less than 110 kilograms, providing they don’t go over 10 kilometres per hour.
Check details with the local road traffic authority.
People need to have a test run and get some training, be seen, make sure other pedestrians and motorists can see them and attach a reflective safety flag to their scooter that’s high enough for motorists and cyclists to see.
These are available from a bike shop.
Wear bright coloured clothing, display a white light at the front, a red light at the back and reflectors for the times when there is less daylight and don’t drink and drive.
If people have been drinking alcohol, it is safer to get a lift from a friend.
They should also wear a safety helmet and travel at the right speed.
The speed limit for mobility scooters is 10 kilometres per hour, even if the scooter can go faster.
When travelling in crowded areas or over rough terrain, use the lowest speed possible.
Where possible, stick to the footpaths, plan the journey, only ride on roads as a last resort, only cross roads at the pedestrian crossings and use quieter streets where possible, watch out for vehicles leaving and entering driveways, never assume other drivers can see you, adjust driving to the conditions such as driving in a straight line to avoid tipping, keep the load down, not too many parcels and no passengers and make sure you can see where you are going and use long distance spectacles if prescribed.
For more information about the choice and operation of these mobility scooters call Shire of Wagin community and regulatory services manager Carolyn Webster on 9861 1177.
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