DVLA's little-known law for anyone using a mobility scooter on the road

There’s a strict regularisation governed by the DVLA for driving a mobility scooter oregon powered wheelchair connected the roads and you could extremity up successful occupation if you are unaware of it

You whitethorn beryllium stopped by the constabulary if you are driving connected the roadworthy successful a mobility scooter that isn’t the close type.

An estimated 20 per cent of radical successful the UK thrust a mobility scooter oregon cognize idiosyncratic who does and the fig is thought to beryllium expanding owed to the ageing population. The small, single-seat vehicles are captious for those with constricted mobility to assistance them get astir and preserve their independence.

However it’s indispensable that owners are alert of the rules surrounding their usage - some for their ain information and that of others astir them. They should lone ever beryllium utilized successful a nationalist spot if you person been medically advised to oregon if you person occupation walking due to the fact that of an injury, carnal disablement oregon aesculapian condition.

When it comes to utilizing the vehicles connected the road, determination is simply a strict regularisation that indispensable beryllium adhered to and it concerns what benignant of scooter oregon wheelchair you have. The government website states: "To thrust connected the road, your conveyance indispensable beryllium a powered wheelchair oregon mobility scooter successful ‘class 3’ oregon not successful a class."

This is due to the fact that determination are rules astir the velocity astatine which they tin travel, arsenic good arsenic indispensable features the conveyance indispensable have. These are:

• a maximum velocity of astatine slightest 8mph

• an businesslike braking system

• a wide presumption of the roadworthy and postulation ahead

• front and rear lights and reflectors

• direction indicators that tin beryllium utilized arsenic a hazard informing signal

• a rear presumption mirror

• an audible horn

If your conveyance does not person these features, you tin beryllium stopped by the police. If it is not successful a class, you request a driving licence to usage it. If the mobility scooter oregon powered wheelchair’s maximum velocity is much than 15mp it indispensable person 2 dipped beam headlamps and if the maximum velocity is much than 25mph it needs a speedometer arsenic well.

Users besides request to travel the Highway Code erstwhile connected the roadworthy and are not permitted to thrust successful autobus lanes oregon rhythm lanes which tally alongside accustomed roadworthy traffic. Cycle tracks that are separated from the roadworthy by barriers oregon region tin beryllium utilized by mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs successful people 2 and 3.

You are not permitted to usage motorways astatine each but tin question connected a dual carriageway utilizing an amber flashing airy for visibility. However, dual carriageways with a velocity bounds of implicit 50mph should beryllium avoided for information reasons. If you are unsure what people your conveyance is, the authorities website provides guidelines here.

Were you alert of the rules for driving mobility scooters connected the roads? Let america cognize successful the comments below.