| Buying a mobility scooter can be one of the most | | | | pedestrians and other pavement users.) |
| important purchases you ever make. Life before you | | | | Farmland/rough terrain |
| use a scooter can mean you are stuck at home due | | | | Only some models are able to 'go off road' and cope |
| to disability, poor health or age. With the aid of a | | | | with rough terrain. It is usually the 4 wheel heavy duty |
| scooter, wheelchair users and other people with | | | | scooters that are suitable for this kind of use. |
| restricted mobility will find they can travel much further | | | | How far will you be travelling? |
| than they used to. There are different types of | | | | Some mobility scooters can travel up to 25 miles on a |
| scooter and depending on your needs, the type of | | | | single battery charge. However not all can go this far; |
| scooter you buy will vary. Make sure you purchase | | | | make sure you check before purchasing a scooter |
| your scooter according to your needs not on price or | | | | that it fits how far you will want to travel. |
| what the scooter looks like. | | | | Will you be travelling alone or with a companion? |
| Outlined here are some of the issues: | | | | If you are going to be travelling alone, make sure you |
| Your physical and health situation. | | | | can operate everything to do with your scooter alone. |
| You need to be able to sit upright, unassisted for | | | | This includes being able to lift the scooter or being able |
| periods of time, and be able to transfer safely in and | | | | to take it apart if you need to do this yourself. |
| out of the scooter. It is always best to ask your | | | | If you are travelling with a companion, ask yourself |
| Doctor if a scooter is practical for you. | | | | how they will be travelling. If they will be on foot - you |
| Where are you going to be using your scooter? | | | | don't want to be going too fast for them to keep up. A |
| Mainly indoors - in the home, or in and around | | | | small lightweight scooter may be better, so they can |
| supermarkets | | | | keep close to you. It is difficult to chat if they have to |
| Smaller, 3 wheel scooters have a tighter turning circle | | | | shout to be heard! |
| than the larger 4 wheel ones. They are easier to | | | | If they use a wheelchair or scooter too, are they both |
| navigate tight turns around doorways or shopping | | | | small enough to ride abreast along most pavements? |
| aisles. | | | | If they are going to drive, with your scooter packed up |
| Mainly outdoors - roads | | | | into the car, make sure you check the following |
| To drive your scooter on the road in the UK, you need | | | | section. |
| to register your scooter with the DVLA. It must have | | | | Will you need to pack up your scooter into your |
| lights, indicators, and a horn. You must obey the rules | | | | vehicle? |
| that other road users follow, and be very careful - | | | | Is it light enough to lift? Does it fold up small enough for |
| other traffic will be going much faster than you and will | | | | your boot or trunk? Does it come apart easily into |
| be more robust in the case of a accident. | | | | pieces for transporting in your vehicle? |
| Pavements | | | | Once you have purchased the right scooter, the |
| In the UK, you are restricted to a maximum of 4mph | | | | chances are it will make a huge difference to your |
| on pavements. (This is often impractical due to | | | | mobility and independence. |