Scooter safety

USERS of mobility scooters are among the first people to complain when young cyclists ride their bicycles along pavements – and potentially threaten the safety of road users. However, it works both ways. Scooter drivers also have an obligation to be considerate towards other people.

There have been a number of high-profile cases involving the misuse of such machines, the latest being a terrifying "hit and run" incident in Mexborough which saw an elderly couple suffer serious injuries while the miscreant, a middle-aged disabled woman, drove off, shouting: "I have to go to Tesco."

Of course, it is almost impossible to legislate for thoughtless people with such a cavalier, and selfish, disregard for the safety of others. Given that mobility scooters are becoming an even more familiar sight on the region's high streets, new users should, at the very least, have to pass a proficiency test before they can use their vehicle.

The sheer weight of these scooters means that they can inflict far more harm, if used recklessly, on unsuspecting pedestrians than a young child riding a bicycle.

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