Mobility scooter insurance suggestion is a step too far
I WAS reading the article about the sad loss of a man who crashed into a bus on his mobility scooter ("'Tougher rules needed' aft-er mobility scooter rider's bus crash death", February 7.) I agree this is a tragedy and the coroner is quite right to suggest mobility scooter users need more safety. However, the suggestion of compulsory insurance is a step too far.
The majority of mobility scooter users use them because of a need and without them would not be able to manage their daily lives. Making them have insurance could be cost-prohibitive. What next, make cyclists have insurance? Compulsory insurance for children who ride battery-powered cars on pavements? I have been hit by one of these and it hurts.
We now live in a claim culture, but making those who have difficulty walking having to pay to use their scooters does seem a step too far. I bet that there are more accidents by cyclists than by users of mobility scooters. Yes, I know they have accidents and some very serious ones resulting in death, but so do cyclists. Better training and awareness would seem the way forward. Motor insurance does not stop drivers from having accidents.
Bob MacDonald
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Comments
by Why_nicknames
Sunday, February 17 2013, 8:55AM
“"but making those who have difficulty walking having to pay to use their scooters does seem a step too far."
Why? Just because they have mobility problems it doesn't automatically mean they will also have problems paying for insurance. Should cyclists have to have insurance? Of course they should! Should children riding in battery-powered cars have insurance? Of course not but they shouldn't be riding on the pavement on the first place. Pavements are for pedestrians.”