Electric scooters open up a world of possibilities for people who are aged or live with a permanent disability. Although, just as there are many people who love scooters, there are some wild misconceptions out there regarding these machines that I aim to clear up:
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MYTH: Three wheelers are dangerous and very unstable - This isn't quite true. A more correct statement is that four wheelers offer more stability. However if a 3-wheeled scooter was dangerously unstable, then it would never pass standards for sale and nobody would be making them. In fact, some have even gone so far as to offer that as many or more falls occur on four wheelers due to the riders thinking that they are never going to tip- they become over confident and can have accidents. Sure, a three wheeler can tip over. However, cars have four wheels and they still go over too. You can have accidents in anything- you have to weigh up the pro's and con's. I always recommend that a persons first scooter be a four wheeler; though personally, if I needed to use a
scooter, I would
hands down prefer a three wheeler over a four due to their excellent maneuverability and legroom.
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MYTH: If you buy a scooter your health will suffer because you wont walk as much - We hear this from time to time from Doctors and Occupational Therapists occasionally, and then the contrary from others in the same profession. The reality is that you don't walk less, you walk elsewhere. If your maximum distance you can walk without getting tired or sore is 500m, then you are trapped in an area with nothing new to see ever. However, if you drive to the shops on a scooter and then get off of it... well now you have the whole shopping centre to walk around in! And remember, scooters can carry walking sticks\walking frames etc. and can even bring your groceries home to boot!
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FACTS: There are some laws and 'road-rules' so to speak when it comes to
electric scooters. It is true that you do not need a licence, but you do need a reason to use these machines. It is usually means-tested by common sense: if you have a genuine disability or mobility issue then you can use a scooter. Children cannot use them to get to school, people who lose their licence for drink driving cannot substitute for a scooter- you can and probably will be fined by the Police. Also, there is a legal speed limit- the scooter must travel below 10km per hour. Insurance is optional for scooters; theft and damage policies can be added by most home and contents insurance companies.
Generally the rest of the laws pertaining to scooters are easy to follow: you have the same rights as a pedestrian. This means you are NOT allowed to drive on the road where vehicles drive UNLESS the footpath is untraversable (in which case you travel as close to the side of the road as possible). Cross at pedestrian crossings, give way wherever possible to other users and obey foot-traffic signs.
Your first scooter is a big step. Make sure that you get as much advice as possible BEFORE you buy a machine. If you have any questions you can call us on 1300 133 505 or contact your local traffic authority for an information pack.