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The leader of Angus Council is calling for a review of the law covering the use of 8mph mobility scooters after a number of accidents and fatalities across the country.

Councillor David Fairweather said a number of mobility scooter users are driving the devices on roads and pavements inappropriately and, sometimes, under the influence of drink or drugs.

The Councillor remarked that drink-driving on mobility scooters can be lethal and unsafe, and that legislation is required.

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David told The Courier: “With an ageing demographic, mobility scooters can be an absolute lifeline to people who are elderly, or who have restricted mobility and I welcome the independence they provide.

“However, there is no question that a very small minority of people are using these inappropriately, and I have been made aware that one user regularly uses their scooter after drinking.

“The fact is that these vehicles can reach speeds of up to eight miles per hour, and can be very heavy. Add alcohol into the mix and take into consideration that they can be driven in pedestrian areas and it is a potentially lethal combination, especially when there appears to be no legal eyesight requirement for users.

“I think we are now at the stage where there needs to be a review of the legislation covering these scooters.

“It’s taken a long time to get the message across that you don’t drive a car after consuming alcohol and we now need to make people are aware that it is not acceptable to drive one of these scooters in the same situation.”

This is not the first time that mobility scooter safety has been discussed, with numerous scooter courses opening to help raise users’ awareness of the different obstacles and scenarios they may face while riding their mobility aid.

One such scooter safety course is Nottingham Trent University’s online training tool that aims to highlight common hazards people might encounter while driving on roads.

The hope is that with increased scooter user awareness, the number of accidents and fatalities will reduce.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland added: “It is important that all road users are complying with the law and using our roads in a manner that keeps them safe and are not a hazard to other road users.”

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scooter.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scooter-150x150.jpgSarah SarsbyNewsroomRetailer NewsSupplier NewsAngus Council,mobility equipment,mobility scooter,mobility scooter accidents,mobility scooter incidents,mobility scooter legislation,mobility scooter regulation,mobility scooter safety,restricted mobilityThe leader of Angus Council is calling for a review of the law covering the use of 8mph mobility scooters after a number of accidents and fatalities across the country. Councillor David Fairweather said a number of mobility scooter users are driving the devices on roads and pavements inappropriately and,...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals