Mobility

Mobility Scooters – 5 Ways to Stay Safe and Have Fun Travelling

- Guest post from Colin Watts at www.usmedicalsupplies.com For many people, travelling is fun and easy - going to the ...

– Guest post from Colin Watts at www.usmedicalsupplies.com

For many people, travelling is fun and easy – going to the parents for the weekend, or spending a weekend shopping in a bigger city a few hours away. If you have a disability or are infirm, however, traveling can often be hard work. You have limited travel opportunities and something as simple as going out with old friends can be tough.

Thankfully, mobility scooters offer a new lease of life and freedom. Typically used by older people and those suffering from disabilities, mobility scooters are versatile, durable and reliable, allowing you to go wherever you need to go in comfort and style.

But what about safety, and how do you drive a mobility scooter anyway?!

Driving a mobility scooter is technically very simple. Most are powered with an electric motor and started with a key. Depending on the model, you may have a joystick-type control, a steering wheel, or handle bars like those on a push-bike. The speed may be controlled via the handlebars or by foot pedals like a car. Whichever style you have, it won’t take long to get used to it, and you’ll be driving like a pro in no time! Who knows, one day you could be good enough to join the Red Wheelies, a mobility scooter display team in the UK!

As with any vehicle, you are only ever as safe on your mobility scooter as: a) the way that you drive it, and b) the way that other people behave around you, so it’s important to be well aware of your driving habits and what is expected of you when using your scooter.

Here are 5 Tips for Staying Safe on Your Scooter

1. Make sure that you give cars a wide berth and make it as easy as possible to be seen. A mobility scooter is low to the ground, so it can be difficult for you to be visible to car drivers.

2. If going out at night, wear reflective clothing and always use front and rear lights.

3. Ensure that you drive it at a comfortable speed and take extra caution when going up or down hills or across uneven ground. The type of mobility scooter that you have will help or hinder you on different terrains, so be sure to purchase the right scooter for your needs. Some models of scooter are designed for all-terrain use and are very stable on four wheels, but many three-wheeled versions are less balanced.

4. Don’t allow anyone else to sit or stand on your scooter while you are driving, and make sure that your scooter is properly balanced (especially important if you are carrying luggage or shopping bags).

5. Above all, the golden rule of mobility scooter operation is Be Alert.

If you can master these, you will be on your way to becoming a weekend traveller whether you have mobility limitations or not.

 

– Cole Watts is a writer of mobility products for US Medical Supplies. US Medical Supplies is an online medical store that carries over +14,000 medical products around the world including Stair Lifts, Mobility Scooters, and much more.

– See more at: https://seniorcare2017.wpengine.com/blog_information/10-12-10/Mobility_Scooters_-_5_Ways_to_Stay_Safe_and_Have_Fun_Travelling.aspx#sthash.Phj4WSQO.dpuf