Drive Safe, Stay Independent: Essential Tips for Mobility Scooter Safety

When it comes to using a mobility scooter, safety should always be your top priority. Here are some tips to help you safely navigate the streets and footpaths:

• Plan your route ahead of time, and try to stick to footpaths whenever possible.
  
  
• Make sure you can carry things safely by using a carry bag, and avoid carrying anything on your lap.
  
  
• Always ensure your battery is fully charged before setting out.
  
  
• Familiarise yourself with who to call in case something goes wrong with your scooter while you’re out.
  
  
• When driving, avoid steep slopes, and keep your scooter in gear when on a slope rather than in neutral. Slow down when turning, especially on sharp corners or slopes, and be careful when driving on rough or uneven surfaces. If you need to drive over a kerb, approach it head-on.
  
  
• Be visible to drivers by wearing brightly colored clothes and fitting a brightly colored flag to your scooter at a height of at least one and a half meters off the ground. Use your scooter's indicators to signal your intentions when turning.
  
  
• Always check for traffic before crossing the road, and try to cross at pedestrian crossings or intersections with stop or give way signs. If this is not possible, choose the shortest route and don't hesitate to ask for help.
  
  
• Avoid distractions such as cellphones or other handheld devices while driving, and always take your hand off the power control and remove the key before parking your scooter.
  
  
• If you need to use the road, remember to keep to the left-hand side, obey traffic signs and signals, and give way to pedestrians. Watch out for children and anything in your way, such as drains, holes in the road, and parked cars. Consider getting your scooter fitted with lights, indicators, a horn, reversing beepers, warning flags, and rear-vision mirrors.
  
  
• Take care of your scooter by following the manufacturer's instructions for recharging the batteries and checking battery acid levels if necessary. Check your tire pressure at a garage every three months, and schedule a general check-up with a qualified service technician every six months. If you're not going to use your scooter for more than a month, make sure the battery is fully charged and arrange for someone to recharge it every two weeks.