Mobility Scooters Safety Guide

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A Mobility Scooter Safety Guide

Mobility scooter riders are more than two and a half times more likely to be killed in a road crash compared to other road users, data has revealed.

Department for Transport (DfT) road casualty statistics show that in 2022, nine mobility scooter users were killed and 270 were injured in collisions on the UK’s roads.

Alarmingly, the figures show that over the last decade, mobility scooter casualties have increased by an average of 20 per cent, year on year.

The data has been released by Surewise, a leading mobility scooter insurance intermediary, as a warning to mobility scooter drivers and to other road users.

Surewise, which has insured more than 130,000 mobility scooters in the UK against theft and in the event of a collision, is so concerned about the safety of mobility scooter users that it has launched a ‘Safer Mobility’ Campaign.

The campaign aims to inform mobility scooter users about the risks they face when travelling on or near to the roads, and raise awareness about their vulnerability to all road users.

To find out more and read the Guide click here

Reported road casualties Great Britain, provisional results for 2023

Graph stats

The National Statistics department in the Department for Transport have just released the provisional results for 2023 for ‘Reported road casualties Great Britain’. Details of this can be found by clicking here

Headline figures

In reported road collisions in Great Britain in 2023 there were an estimated:

  • 1,645 fatalities, a decline of 4% compared to 2022

  • 29,643 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties, little change compared to 2022 (KSI means Killed and Seriously injured)

  • 132,063 casualties of all severities, a decline of 3% compared to 2022

Considering the different road user types and demographics, the statistics show:

  • of the 4 main road user types, the road user type with the biggest estimated percentage change for 2023 compared to 2022 for fatalities was motorcyclists, which showed a decline of 12%

  • of the 4 main road user types, pedal cyclists had the biggest estimated percentage change for 2023 compared to 2022 for all casualties, which showed a decline of 6%

  • in 2023, 75% of fatalities and 61% of casualties of all severities were male

Comparison between Young and Older Drivers
 
Interesting from their release they said for in relation to all ages, percentage of the fatalities between 2013 and 2023 shows:
 
  • 24% were aged 17 to 29 years, this is a 24% decrease for men and 33% decrease for women since 2013
  • 23% were aged 70 years old and over, this is 19% increase for men and 6% increase for women since 2013
For females the age group with the most fatalities in 2023 was 70 year olds and over with 151 fatalities.
 
Where councils and national bodies are often focussing on young drivers, this shows fatalities are going down for younger drivers, but up for older drivers fatalities are on average increasing in the last 10 years.
 
What can you do?
 
This is why ourselves at the Older Drivers Forum are working hard to help and support mature motorists to carry on driving safely for longer. We can do many things to help ourselves, visit our page for ‘Older Drivers‘ which gives practical tips to reduce your risks. You can also visit our ‘Webinars‘ page to see previous recorded webinars which give great support and advice o a many different subjects.
The main reason Older Drivers have an increase risk of fatalities is mainly because of our frailty and being involved in a collision can cause us to be more seriously injured than many other age groups. We need to ensure we never become complacent about our driving as we age.
 
Our calculations show that Nationally in 2023:
 
Fatals – for all car occupants
 
  • All ages – 749
  • 60 and above – 262
  • This shows 35% were in the 60 and above age group
 
KSI’s – for all car occupants
 
  • All ages 11,655
  • 60 and above – 2,972
  • This shows 25% were in the 60 and above age group
 
All Casualties – for all car occupants
 
  • All ages – 72,155
  • 60 and above – 132,248
  • This shows that 18% were in the 60 and above age group

Other analysis of the provisional 2023 data shows:

  • 75% of fatalities and 61% of casualties of all severities were male
  • 4% of fatalities and 10% of casualties were aged 16 years old and under
  • 24% of fatalities and 29% of casualties were aged 17 to 29 years old
  • 23% of fatalities and 8% of casualties were aged 70 years old and over

FREE Webinar – Concerned about a mature driver? We can help.

May 2024

‘CONCERNED ABOUT A MATURE DRIVER? WE CAN HELP.’   

This popular series of zoom webinars returns at 10am on Saturday 25 May    

Starting conversations with a family member about retiring from driving can be challenging, especially if they are unaware or complacent about their declining driving skills.

This webinar is intended for families, friends, and carers concerned about a mature driver. Advice includes how to:

  • Start meaningful conversations with the person of concern
  • Keep them driving safely for longer, including information on the impact of medications and dementia on fitness to drive
  • Plan for when it is time for them to retire from driving

We are delighted that Bobby Oliver from Driving Mobility will be a guest contributor. Driving Mobility provide DVLA approved assessments for drivers with mobility and cognitive issues. They also provide a subsidised, mobility, advice service for drivers planning to retire from driving. www.drivingmobility.org.uk

To register e-mail odfglos@gmail.com with your name and the email address you would like joining instructions sent to.

 The webinars are free to join, use zoom, but a zoom account is not required.

Places are limited so if you register and then are unable to attend. Please let us know.

Whilst we have your attention all our work in Gloucestershire is voluntary and relies on public donations.

If you can donate, please email odfglos@gmail.com and we will provide bank details of Gloucestershire Older Persons Association (Charity No: 1124977) under whose charitable status we operate. Thank you. 

Help needed

rollerbanner-bg2 croppedOlder Drivers required for Photoshoot in Bath

We are working with an organisation called ‘Co-Pilot‘ who create national Road Safety content for use across the country to help and support Older Drivers to carry ion driving safely for longer. They are doing a photo shoot in Bath on Tuesday 30th April and are looking for 2 to 3 Older Drivers who would be willing to photographed. They are looking for Men and Women, as well as any one of that age group who drives an adapted vehicle.

They will pay £100 to each person.

If interested then please contact James Evans by emailing james@co-pilot.org

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