The Government is committed to helping people who have mobility difficulties to get around. This is so that people can remain active members of the community and maintain their independence. Traditionally, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs have been used by those with mobility difficulties; as the population ages, more elderly people are likely to use mobility scooters, which are considerably less expensive than powered wheelchairs. Both provide a means of getting around the neighbourhood and to local shops, for those unable to walk or having difficulty in walking. It is essential that users are able to keep themselves and other road users or pedestrians safe. They can do this by being aware of the road rules and using their vehicles responsibly and safely. The advice in this document is intended to raise awareness amongst those who use or are thinking of using a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair. It replaces any previous advice issued by the Department for Transport. For ease of reference mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are referred to as mobility vehicles in this document. Manual and powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters are medical devices for those who cannot walk or who have difficulty walking. In law you will still find them called 'invalid carriages'. There are three types of 'invalid carriage' defined in 'The Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988': * Class 1 - manual wheelchairs, i.e. self-propelled or attendant-propelled, not electrically powered; * Class 2 - powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, intended for footpath or pavement use only with a maximum speed limit of 4 mph; * Class 3 - powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, for use on the road, with a maximum speed limit of 8 mph but with the facility to travel at 4 mph on a footpath or pavement. Some other types of small electrically powered vehicles such as golf buggies look similar to mobility scooters. They are not 'invalid carriages' within the meaning of the 1988 Regulations. It may be illegal to use them on the public highway. This document focuses on Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting