New regulations are set to be announced advising users of mobility scooters on how they should operate them in order to remain safe
. The new pointers and warnings include the following; never to drink and drive, to be careful what medications you are taking and to never attempt to use them on motorways.
Throughout the UK police forces have begun fearing that the problem of unsafe users is becoming much worse than expected. Mobility scooters have a top speed of 8mph and people are currently able to drive them without any prior training.
The new safety conscious regulations have come as the result of a Department of Transport study that has revealed how most people feel mobility scooter users should need partake in training prior to using them. People questioned also expressed the opinion that eye tests should be compulsory as well as taking out adequate insurance.
The survey proved that 53% of people questioned desired drivers of mobility scooters to take a test before driving. 78% of people voiced how they thought people should have training before using the scooters and 61% felt that insurance should be taken out.
The survey also highlighted the fact that one in five people use or at least know somebody who uses a mobility scooter.
A startling 7% of people have either been injured by a mobility scooter user or know somebody who has.
The new so-called 'scooter highway code' has been created by the Norfolk Constabulary along with mobility retailer Halfords to attempt to tackle the worries of the public.
Mobility Scooters are a way of freedom for a lot of people and therefore it is important that they are used in a safe and responsible way. Figures show that over the last quarter of a century the population has aged going from 15% of people being over 65 to16% which is actually representative of 1.7 million people.