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Just purchased your first mobility scooter? Congratulations! A mobility scooter can truly change your life — you can get from point A to B with ease and carry out everyday activities that might have recently become challenging for you, like shopping or going to the park. From now on, the world is your oyster — but there are a few things you need to know about safety and mobility to protect yourself and the public while riding your scooter.
At Active Mobility Systems, we want you to get the most out of your new mobility scooter, so we’ve put together a guide on safety and mobility to ensure you drive safely and effectively out in public.
#1. Schedule a medical exam
Before purchasing a mobility scooter, be sure to consult with your doctor or occupational therapist (OT) to confirm if you are physically and mentally capable of operating a mobility scooter.
You will be checked for balance, sight, hand-eye coordination, concentration and arm strength.
During the check-up, it’s crucial to be honest with your OT. Allowing your therapist to mistakenly believe that you are physically and mentally equipped to drive the scooter can have serious risks.
#2. Choose the right mobility scooter
It’s also important to choose the best mobility scooter for your needs. While shopping, you’re likely to encounter salespeople who are more interested in closing a sale than providing the best possible product to meet your needs.
We recommend consulting your care provider about which scooter is right for you.
#3. Take a test drive
Just like buying a car or motorcycle, you should take your mobility scooter for a test drive. You’ll be spending lots of time driving along footpaths and roads as well as inside shopping centres, so you want to be sure your mobility scooter can get you from point A to B with speed and efficiency.
You should also consider your safety when testing your mobility scooter — can you fall off? Is your mobility scooter stable? Is there a chance that the mobility scooter will slip or tip over on uneven ground? If you have any concerns, maybe try a different scooter or consult your care provider for advice.
#4. Make sure you’re visible at all times
A scooter painted cherry red will shine in the sun — however, it can be difficult to see at night. For this reason, most scooters are equipped with lights and indicators as well as reflective strips to make sure your scooter is easily seen in darkness.
At least two reflective lights or strips will make your scooter more visible than having one small light or strip. Being visible at night will prompt other drivers to slow down and take precautions.
You can also add a flag to your mobility scooter so that people can see you coming from further away.
#5. Stick to the footpath
It’s not uncommon to see mobility scooter drivers on the road — however, you should never drive on the road unless there is no other option. Driving on the road can be dangerous considering your mobility scooter cannot reach the same speed as a car, motorcycle or truck.
With this in mind, we recommend sticking to the footpath. Be sure to watch out for vehicles entering or exiting driveways and for people coming out of shopfronts.
#6. Don’t speed through crowds
When you’re travelling along the footpath, it’s important to maintain a lower speed than usual. Mobility scooters have a speed limit of 10 km per hour in Australia but people walk much slower than that — especially in crowded areas.
If you’re driving along a busy footpath, wandering around an outdoor market or travelling through a shopping centre, be sure to go at a much slower speed to ensure the safety of the people around you.
#7. Don’t carry too much in your basket
If you have a basket on your mobility scooter (most scooters do), be sure not to carry too much — lots of heavy items can put extra stress on your scooter, tip off the balance and drain the battery. With this in mind, it’s important to consider how many bags and items you plan to carry in your scooter’s basket before you purchase.
You should also book regular services with your scooter’s provider to ensure it’s well looked after and capable of carrying all that weight.
#8. Maintain your mobility scooter
Maintaining your mobility scooter is one of the best safety precautions you can take. A professional technician can provide reassurance that your tyres are in good condition, the lights are working properly and the battery is functioning as it should.
Developing a good relationship with your scooter technician will ensure that you can rely on them to assess your scooter and recommend any necessary repairs. They’ll ensure your safety and mobility from day one.
#9. Get your mobility scooter from us!
If you’re looking for the right scooter, you’re already in the right place. Active Mobility Systems has a wide range of electric scooters for the elderly — our range includes general purpose scooters, compact scooters and bariatric scooters, all of which are safe, speedy and perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
We source our scooters from the world’s most reliable manufacturers like Invacare, Shoprider and Pride Mobility. Every scooter we offer features ease of operation, durability, safety and comfort.
Plus, if you are looking for a reliable technician, we also offer servicing and repairs for our scooters. Our service technicians are trained in repairing and servicing a wide range of mobility equipment. As we are NDIS service and equipment providers, you may enjoy partial to full NDIS funding to access our products and services.
To view our scooters first-hand, visit our showroom at Unit 8, 110-120 Silverwater Road.