Warning over mobility scooter drivers in Benidorm facing £425 fines for rule-breaking
Mobility equipment supplier Mobility Solutions Direct has warned that mobility scooter rule-breakers in the Spanish holiday resort of Benidorm are facing £425 fines.
Holidaymakers using mobility scooters in Benidorm could face their vehicle being confiscated and end up with a hefty fine of £425 (€500) as local authorities there are starting to clamp down on their usage.
The Spanish resort is a favourite hotspot for Brits, attracting over 800,000 visitors last year.
However, UK holidaymakers have been complaining about mobility scooter drivers whizzing along the beachfront at “nearly 30-40 miles an hour”.
Lee Cartwright, director of Mobility Solutions Direct, has outlined the regulations that mobility scooter users need to adhere to in order to avoid being slapped with a £425 penalty in the resort popular with UK tourists and expats.
Lee warned: “Benidorm is beloved by UK tourists, drawing millions of British visitors annually. However, the resort is facing issues due to its popularity, particularly with the increasing complaints about mobility scooters.”
“Problems arise from people renting them just for fun. The local council has expressed a desire for these scooters to be used responsibly and only for genuine needs.”
In Benidorm, people over the age of 55 are permitted to use mobility scooters, or younger, but only if they have mobility issues. If people can walk safely without one and they don’t have a permit for one, they are advised not to ride a mobility scooter.
For those with mobility issues using scooters on pavements, the maximum speed is 4mph, which is about the same as a walking pace. Class 3 mobility scooters, intended for road use, can go up to 8mph. In other regions, tourists should not exceed 12mph and are required to wear a helmet.
Mobility scooters are for use by a single person and not for carrying another person and they cannot be used if the user is drunk. Lee adds: “A majority of those using a scooter without permission are young British people who are using the vehicle to go clubbing rather than pay for a taxi.”
Users operating a class 3 scooter must ensure it is equipped with two separate functioning breaks, according to Spanish regulations. The scooter should weigh no more than 150kg without any load, and up to 200kg when carrying essential user equipment like medical supplies. It should feature front and rear lights along with reflectors, directional indicators capable of functioning as hazard warning signals, an audible horn and a rearview mirror.
