Driving your mobility scooter carries with it important responsibility and as with all things today, observing a few rules will ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
Along with your new sense of freedom, comes a new set of responsibilities for you.
Rules of the Road For Mobility Scooters
- Ride your scooter on the sidewalk. Don't ride on the roadway if there is a sidewalk on either side of the road or highway
- If there's no sidewalk, then travel on the extreme left side of the roadway or shoulder of the highway facing oncoming traffic.
- Obey all traffic control devices
- Obey school crossing guards and school traffic patrols.
- Cross only at intersections or wherever there is a crosswalk.
- Don't leave a curb or other place of safety if traffic cannot safely stop for you.
Safety Tips for Mobility Scooter Drivers
- Use courtesy and think safety, your motorized scooteris a heavy piece of equipment. Know the dimensions of your scooter, practise driving it so that when you corner you don't run over feet, bump into people's legs or property, or hit people. Practise driving and braking. Get an obstacle course set up and drive around these obstacles to hone your driving skills and understand the dimensions and performance of your scooter. Think about when you got your driver's license - did you parallel park perfectly the first time... avoid banging into things and damaging your scooter or other people by practising first.
- Make yourself visible:
- reflective stickers on your scooter are a good idea
- wearing bright colored clothes or a reflective vest is a super idea
- attach a flag or penant to an aerial on your scooter for enhanced visibility. It's amazing how people may not see you but the waving of a flag can get their attention.
- Avoid travelling at night, it's better to plan your trip for daylight hours, so that in the event of a problem, others can see your need for assistance.
- It's important you follow the same rules of the road that apply to pedestrians:
- Always carry personal identification and a contact name, in case of any emergency.
- Operate your motorized wheelchair only after reading the instruction manual.
- Avoid using your motorized wheelchair if you are taking any medication, drugs or alcohol that may affect your skills or judgment.
- Drive at the same speed as other pedestrian traffic.
- When passing other pedestrians from behind, use proper care and use a bell or horn to warn them of your approach.
- If you're travelling with another motorized wheelchair operator, travel in single file, not side-by-side.
- Avoid sudden turns at the higher speeds.
- Always proceed carefully as you approach the downgrade of a ramp or hill.
- Look ahead - watch for bumps and uneven surfaces, and slow down or try to avoid them.
- Slow down when approaching curbs and ramps, and avoid approaching them at an angle.
- Be extra cautious of possible traffic as you approach driveways and laneways.
- Always keep your feet on the platform or foot-rests.
- Mount or dismount only when the brake is engaged.
- Remember, a motorized wheelchair is safe when only one person is riding it.
The information in this publication is intended to provide general information only. Nothing is intended to provide legal or professional advice or to be relied on in any dispute, claim, action, demand or proceeding. AffordableSeniorScooters.com and the author DO NOT accept liability for any damage or injury resulting from reliance on this information in this article or anywhere in this site. The information on this site is purely for your general information. Specific regulations regarding use of your mobliity scooter should be sought from local police in the area where you are operating your scooter.