A mobility scooter
A mobility scooter

Mobility scooter users are being urged to take extra care when they are out and about across Lichfield.

Following concerns about the safety of pedestrians, Lichfield District Council is working with the city’s Disability Partnership Panel to highlight the need for mobility scooter users to follow the Highway Code when using their vehicles and wheelchairs on local pavements and roads.

Councillor Doris English, Lichfield District Council Councillor and Chairman of Lichfield’s Disability Partnership Panel, said:

“We have noticed quite an increase in the number of complaints about motorised mobility scooters, which is why we wanted to make sure local users are taking care and following the Highway Code.

“We are also concerned that, because mobility scooter users are not required to complete training or take out insurance before they take to the streets, a serious accident could be waiting to happen locally.

“This is why we wanted to urge any motorised mobility scooter and wheelchair users to take extra care when out and about on local streets, and to consider taking out insurance, as this would cover any possible accidents.”

This is an issue that has been gaining increasing media coverage following a spate of accidents, where pedestrians have been killed or injured, after being knocked over by mobility scooters.

In 2008 an 84-year-old woman died after being hit by an electric-powered scooter when she was crossing the road in Sunderland.

The Highway Code states that these scooters should not be driven faster than 4mph on pavements and 8mph on the road. It also says that pedestrians have priority and pavement users should be shown consideration – particularly those with a hearing or visual impairment who may not be aware that a mobility scooter is passing.

If in any doubt, the council is reminding city centre shoppers that they run a Shopmobility service, which is now operating out of a unit in Tempest Ford’s car park, just off Birmingham Road.

Lichfield’s Shopmobility’s service is free, but the council is urging everyone to book at least one day before they want to hire the equipment.

To find out more about Lichfield Shopmobility,  call Lichfield District Council on 01543 308999 or visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/shopmobility.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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Pride Mobility Scooters
13 years ago

These are mobility scooters, not race cars.They help those that have trouble walking. They are not meant to be a mode of long distance transportation. Five MPH would be pretty fast if you bumped into someone while shopping at the mall.

Regards,