Mobility scooter killers
Accidents soar to one a DAY... and nine died in just a year
Mobility scooters are involved in crashes almost every day, with more than 100 victims seriously hurt and nine people killed in a year, shocking data reveals.
A surge in serious accidents has prompted calls from victims’ families for mandatory driving test-style assessments.
The alarming figures show scooter drivers were involved in 334 accidents in 2022 – the most recent year for which data is available – up 77 per cent in two years.
As well as nine deaths, there were 109 accidents where victims were seriously injured, some of whom were hit by out-of-control drivers.
Accidents are predicted to become more common due to rising sales but the Government has pledged just £90,000 for a voluntary training scheme to improve safety. Under the scheme, charity Driving Mobility, which released the figures, is approaching 400 approved retailers to train staff in providing guidance to buyers.
But since the scheme was announced in June 2022, just 43 retailers have signed up.
Now victims’ families are demanding the Government go further in taming the industry.
Natalie young, 92, died five weeks after being hit by a scooter in a Morrisons in taunton, Somerset, in March 2022. the driver has never been identified after leaving the scene, but police judged them not to have committed a crime.
Mrs young’s sons have called for the law to be changed, including for it to be made a criminal offence for a scooter driver to leave the scene of an accident without leaving details, in line with hit-andrun laws for other road users.
Robin young, 56, told the Mail it was ‘clear that mobility scooters cause accidents that result in major injury and death’.
‘We hope something will change, so no family has to go through what we had to. our mum did not deserve this, nor does anyone deserve to lose their life through these type of accidents.
‘Nobody can drive a car without a licence and insurance, so why can people drive another device that can cause serious injury, without some form of qualification, regulation and insurance?’
Car drivers over 70 must renew their driving licence every three years, complete a medical declaration form and pass an eye test.
but you do not need a licence to drive any type of mobility scooter.
Jon Nock, from Driving Mobility, said scooters can be easily bought ‘without any proof that you know where you can ride it, the risks, or even that you’re competent’.
Mr Nock said the Department for transport looked into introducing a driving test for the scooters three years ago, but a feasibility study ‘came to nothing’.
A Department for transport spokesman said: ‘Mobility scooters are often a lifeline for people... but scooter users must comply with road safety rules and are encouraged to carry out training.’