Scooter safety message goes to Westminster

Andy Foster from South Yorkshire Police and Parkgate Mobility’s Tracy Simmons were invited to the Department for Transport in London.

They met with figures including then Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, and Sheffield MP Clive Betts.

And the pair could be working with the Government to recommend improvements in the legislation around scooters and powered wheelchairs.

Lifewise project officer Mr Foster said: “The meeting gave us the opportunity to present facts regarding mobility scooter safety and to explain how we’re working in partnership to help raise safety awareness through the Scooter Safe initiative.”

Scooter Safe is a free two-hour training session delivered at the Lifewise, Hellaby, including awareness of the law, Highway Code and other safety issues.

Mr Foster said: “Baroness Kramer and her team showed a lot of interest of the facts we presented, especially after we delivered part of the Scooter Safe presentation, showing images of collisions involving mobility scooters across South Yorkshire.

“We believe existing legislation could be improved by making insurance compulsory on the larger class three road legal scooters and some form of training for users, prior to taking to the roads.”