I keep reading articles that say you need to get your scooter serviced by a qualified engineer. Most of them don’t say what is included in the Service though. I was curious and set out to find out and this is what I found out:

Most mobility scooters should have a service every 12 months. It is very important to get your scooter serviced. It is vital that your brakes are in top working order, especially if you use them on the road. Having your scooter regularly serviced will give you peace of mind, that it is in good working order. Also it will help your scooter last longer as it will be well maintained.

What a mobility scooter service should cover

• Brake check
• Tyre check, and adjust tyre pressure if you have pneumatic tyres (if it is necessary)
• Bulb and lighting check
• Battery check
• Steering adjustment
• Lubrication

All this should be covered in the price you are quoted. Any parts you need will be extra.

When arranging a service for your mobility scooter it is wise to ask about or check the following:

• Where is the service carried out? In your home or at a workshop? If it is at their workshop; will they collect and return your scooter, or do you need to get it there yourself?
• How long will the service take, can you wait while they do it?
• Will the work come guaranteed?
• Are any parts that you need guaranteed?
• Does the engineer have experience with the make of scooter that you own?
• Will they offer you advice on maintaining your scooter free of charge?
• Will the service include a test drive?

When it started getting difficult for me to walk, I wish I had taken the plunge and got help sooner. I carried on struggling for too long. I suppose I thought that things would get better. I didn’t realise that I was just making things harder for myself.

I found that I wasn’t going out as often. I definitely wasn’t going as far as I used to. I wasn’t getting the same joy from life that I used to. It was only when I started feeling trapped in my own home that I knew I had to do something to help me get out of the house more.

I could walk, but not far. I felt a scooter was the best option for me. I didn’t want one though. It felt like giving in and I didn’t want my disability and age to win. It is only now that I realise that it is me who has won. My disability is no longer in control of me. It doesn’t stop me getting out of the house. In fact I think I go out more now, as it is so easy. Much easier than before.

At first using my mobility scooter was strange. I have never been a car driver, so it felt like I was travelling at a million miles an hour! I wasn’t though. It could go a maximum of 4mph, and people can walk that fast. Once I got used to the controls it was easy. I had a practice in my road. It is a cul-de-sac and nice and quiet. I very quickly mastered going backwards, forwards, turning round and braking. I learned about the indicators, lights, and importantly found where the horn was and how to use it.

My husband said he would drive in the car and meet me at the local library. It was only about 2 miles away, and I loved that first journey on my scooter. I knew exactly what route I was going to take, checked everything on my scooter – and drove off. Once I got used to feeling like I was going too fast, I felt exhilarated to be mobile and free. I was driving on the pavement, but found it easy to navigate up and down kerbs and around people.

Before long, I was there. My husband was grinning from ear to ear. He knew I could do it, and was so pleased that my first trip had been such a success. We stopped for a coffee, and then I made my way back.

Nowadays, I go to all sorts of places on my scooter. It really has changed my life. I am in control again.

We all think we drive carefully on our mobility scooters (well, I certainly think that!) but when you look at the scooter highway code; you realise that driving a mobility scooter is very much like driving a car, and the same rules apply.

It is very sensible to know the rules and ALWAYS apply them when you drive.

Some points from the code for when you are out and about on your mobility scooter:

What sort of mobility scooter do you drive?

Class 2

• You can’t drive these on the road (you can cross a road but not drive along it).
• You drive these on pavements and footpaths; they only go up to 4mph.

Class 3

• These have a switch to change the maximum speed they can go.
• When it is switched to 4mph you can drive on pavements like a class 2 scooter. However you can switch them to 8mph and drive them on the road.

(Class 1 are manual wheelchairs)

I think this is one of the most important rules:

Always be aware of pedestrians and other road users.

Kerbs

• If not approached at right angles, kerbs can tip your scooter.
• Make sure you are head on when you go up or down them.
• Use a dropped kerb when ever you can, if you need to go up or down a kerb make sure it is not too high for your scooter to handle.
• Your scooter manual will tell you what the maximum kerb height that you can safely negotiate.

Looking ahead

• Sometimes you will not be able to see the road ahead clearly.
• This could be due to a corner, hedge or wall that restricts you view.
• Watch your speed and be vigilant.
• Slow down when approaching corners.
• You might not be able to see something that is coming in the other direction or if you go too fast round a corner you run the rick of toppling over.

Driving surface

Be aware of:

• loose gravel
• slippy or wet surfaces
• sloping ground

all of these can alter how your scooter behaves, and you need to drive accordingly

Brakes

Some scooters have a slight delay when you brake. If your scooter has, always brake in PLENTY of time.

Pedestrians and other roads users

• Remember that pedestrians might not see you or hear you approaching.
• This is especially true if you are behind them.
• Look very carefully for other road users and what they are doing before you move off or you change direction.

When driving you mobility scooter on the pavement

ALWAYS give way to pedestrians.

• If you are driving a class 3 scooter – switch it to 4mph before you use a pavement or footpath.

• Don’t necessarily drive at 4mph just because the law says you can. Drive at the speed that is appropriate for where you are.

When driving you mobility scooter on the road

If you want to drive your mobility scooter on the road it must be a class 3 vehicle and have:

• a horn
• flashing indicators
• headlights
• rear lights

Make sure the lights are visible to other road users – especially in bad or wet weather

In the UK you must also register a class 3 vehicle with the DVLA and get a nil duty tax disc.

On the road your mobility scooter is vulnerable. The vehicle will be slower and smaller than the rest of the traffic on the road. Be acutely aware of this.

It is best to avoid busy roads

Mirrors

Use your mirror, but don’t rely on it. If you rely on your mirror

• Other traffic may be approaching you faster than you think they are.
• Mirrors can give a false impression of how far away another vehicle is.

When on the road, you must follow the same rules as other traffic:

You are not allowed to use your mobility scooter on motorways, bus lanes or cycle tracks.

Remember to:

• Keep to the left.
• Obey traffic lights
• Obey road signals and instructions,
• Give way to pedestrians on crossings.
• Use you headlights and rear lights at night.
• Always indicate before pulling out
• Always indicate before turning left or right.
• When you are passing parked cars, look out for doors opening.

Remember that turning right at a road junction when using a mobility scooter can be hazardous.

It can be safer to:

• Turn onto the pavement and use a pedestrian crossing
• Stop on the left of the road and wait for a safe gap in the traffic before crossing the road

I love driving my scooter. It gives me the freedom and independence I really though I had lost. It brought it home to me about safety while driving my scooter when a friend of mine had a very near miss on hers.

She was wearing a scarf that got caught on one of her scooter wheels. Luckily the scarf just came off. It made me think. There is a highway code for mobility scooters and it has some really good advice in it. Have a look below:

What sort of mobility scooter do you drive?

Class 2 – 4mph

• You can’t drive these on the road (you can cross a road but not drive along it).
• You drive these on pavements and footpaths, and they only go up to 4mph.

Class 3 – 8mph

• These have a switch to change the maximum speed they can go.
• When you switch to 4mph you can drive on pavements like a class 2 scooter.
• When you switch them to 8mph you can  drive them on the road.

Before you drive anywhere

• Make sure you have the most appropriate scooter for you.
• Make sure you understand what all the controls do.
• Make sure the battery is full charged
• Make sure you are insured. This is not essential in the UK, according to the law, but it is sensible. You are responsible if you cause an accident, so it is prudent to have insurance.
• Plan your journey in advance – make sure you have enough battery power, the right clothes on, and the route is suitable for you scooter.

Clothing

• The best rule is – See and be seen!
• Make sure nothing you are wearing restricts you view. This is especially important in bad or wet weather and you are wearing a hat, scarf, or hood.
• Make sure other road and pavement users can see you. Does your scooter have any fluorescent markings that will show up and reflect? If you are on the road – put your lights on!
• Never wear loose fitting clothes. If you have a belt or scarf on make sure they are secure and tucked away.

Other things to note

• Don’t let anyone else on the scooter with you. This includes a child sitting on your lap.
• Don’t lead a pet from your scooter. You see this very often, someone taking their dog for a walk on their scooter. However this can be very dangerous. Even a well behaved dog can run off, cause crashes or get scared. If you are on your scooter you are not in a position to immediately take control of the situation.
• Mobility cooters have baskets on the front and you can add storage like bags on the back, or pannier bags. Use them and don’t have bags hanging from you or your scooter. If you do this it will make the scooter unstable and more difficult to control.