Short Description

Scooters are available in either three or four wheeled models and feature a battery powered motor, seat and tiller to steer. Scooters are used to increase and extend the range of personal mobility and help conserve energy. They range from compact indoor models to heavy duty outdoor models designed to handle rough terrain.

More Details

The primary market for scooters is individuals with physical disabilities or health conditions which affect their ability to walk or limit their physical endurance. Scooter users often have some ability to walk, but are limited in distance or stamina.

Scooter users often have difficulty propelling manual wheelchairs,
but do not require the sophisticated electronic controls and seating systems common in powered wheelchairs

Points to Consider

The ability of the user
Consider the nature of the person's disability and its expected course including their:
cognitive ability
level of vision and hearing
physical ability
- to transfer to and from the scooter
- to operate the seat
- to operate the tiller
- to operate the controls
- to reach and operate manual brakes (if applicable)
balance
weight
ability to maintain the chair, especially charging the batteries
ability to dismantle and transfer the scooter to a car or vehicle (if required)

The user's environment
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that the scooter be trialled in the prospective user's environment prior to purchasing

Try and establish what type of scooter will be required for the environment in which it to be operated. Consider:
the local terrain, does it have
- steep gradients?
- rough ground?
- busy streets?
will the scooter be required for indoor use eg. shopping centres / malls?
- in the user's home?
is there undercover space for storage?
is there access to a power point for recharging?
what distances will be covered?
what speeds are required?
will the user need to carry items such as walking aids or shopping on the scooter?
what safety features may be desirable?, eg. horn, lights, reflective strips
can it be loaded into a vehicle if required?

Public Transport
. will the scooter be used on public transport?
. NOTE: The Australian Transport Council Standard for Accessible Public Transport applies to taxis / trams / trains / buses / ferries / light rail. The maximum allocated space for transportation of a wheelchair or scooter is 800mm x 1300mm. This size should be considered (before purchasing) if the scooter is to be used on public transport.

Does the scooter fit the user comfortably?
is the seat height correct?
is there enough leg room?
is the user able to swivel the seat?
can the user
- reach and adjust the tiller?
- reach and manage the controls safely?
does the user feel safe when using it?

Financial implications
what are the purchase and ongoing maintenance costs?
can the purchaser obtain financial assistance from eg. - PADP, DVA, charitable organisation, insurance company, service groups?
what are the terms of the warranty? ie. the length and conditions?
what is the availability of parts and service?
will the model of the scooter require compulsory third party insurance?

Features

Design
is it a three wheeled or four wheeled model?
is it belt driven or electronically powered?
is it easily dismantled for transporting?
what type of suspension is fitted?
does the seat swivel or is it fixed?
does it have lift up or fixed armrests?
what type of upholstery is available? eg. vinyl, wool, fabric, sheepskin?

Size
what is the length of the wheelbase? (this affects the turning circle)
what is the overall width?
what is the clearance from the floor?
is the height adjustable and if it is, how is this done?

Backrest
does it fold down?
is it fixed or adjustable?
is it moulded?

Controls
are they constant-pressure controls, or operated by a lever or bar using the thumb or finger?
is it left or right hand operation?
is a lever extension possible?
is the forward / reverse control operated by a switch or control lever?
is the speed control
- illuminated / printed?
- dial/push button?

Batteries
are they dry or wet cell?
is there easy access to the batteries?
are they easily removed?
what weight are they?
what is their life expectancy and how easily are they maintained?
what is their range before recharging is required?
is the charger separate or built-in?
is there a battery gauge

Motor
what is the capacity?
what weight is it?
how noisy is it during operation?
how responsive is it?

Brakes
are they electro-magnetic brakes?
is there an additional manual hand brake?

Wheels
The choice of wheels and castors affects the manoeuvrability and smoothness of the ride. Consider the environmental requirements of where the scooter will be used
the overall wheel size affects the clearance and ability to traverse rough terrain
smaller wheels are more suitable for indoor use
are there stabilizing buffers?
what colour are the tyres?
- grey non-marking tyres for indoor use
- black, suitable for outdoor use only

Accessories
does it have a holder for mobility aids?
is there a basket?
does it have anti-tip wheels?
does it require a trailer for transportation?
does it require a hoist to lift it into a car boot?
can it have an additional cart fitted at the rear?
is it able to have a shopping trolley connected at the front?
does it have lights?
is there a canopy?
. It should be noted that persons considering a scooter for the first time or persons with new disabilities should seek the advice of their physicians, therapists, or other rehabilitation professionals in determining whether a wheelchair or a scooter is most appropriate for them, and / or what type of scooter best meets their needs.
Contact the Independent Living Centre NSW for further details.

Factors To Consider

The space allowed on public transport for carrying mobility equipment is an area of 1300mm by 800mm.

State transit will only carry scooters with an unladen weight of less than 200 kg and which can be driven onto the bus, and manoeuvred to fit wholly within the designated wheelchair space under their own power. Any such scooters carried must also comply, where relevant, with the rules applying to wheelchairs.

Three wheeled mobility aids of any kind are unstable in normal bus operations and will not be carried because of the safety risk.

Accessible buses display a blue and white wheelchair sign on the front of the bus, and on the easy access door.

Licence & Insurance Requirements

Registration requirements for motorised Personal Mobility Vehicles:
Motorised personal mobility vehicles which weigh more than 110 kg when unladen and which are capable of travelling at more than 10 km/hr are not exempt from registration (in accordance with Part 16 of Schedule 1 The Road Transport (VR) Regulations 1998) and therefore must be registered if they are to be used on a road or road related area.

Vehicles which weigh not more than 110 kg and travel at less than 10 km/hr and which are specially constructed to be used, and while upon a road or road related area are used solely for the conveyance of a person with a disability, are EXEMPT from registration.

CTP Coverage for Registered Personal Mobility Vehicles:
Any vehicle which must be registered must also have Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. CTP insurance will cover the at fault owner / driver for damages payable to another person / persons injured in a motor accident which occurs on a road or road related area.
For vehicles weighing more than 110kg and travelling faster than 10km/hr, the RTA issue a Conditional Registration Certificate with in built CTP coverage. (There is a fee for this which is renewable annually).

CTP Coverage for Exempt Personal Mobility Vehicles:
Motorised wheelchairs which are EXEMPT from registration are not compelled to carry Third Party Insurance (section 8 Motor Accidents Act 1988 and Part 16 of Schedule 1 The Road Transport (VR) Regulations 1998).

As of June 2002 the RTA no longer issues Unregistered Vehicle Permits for personal mobility vehicles which are EXEMPT from registration.

(i) Nominal Defendant Scheme:
If the owner or driver of a vehicle which is EXEMPT from registration is found to be at fault in injuring a person on a road or road related area the injured person may make a third party claim against the Nominal Defendant Scheme. The Nominal Defendant would pay compensation, however, in accordance with section 31(3) of the Motor Accidents Act 1988 it would not seek to recover that payment from the at fault owner or driver of the vehicle if it was EXEMPT from registration and therefore legally on the road.
It is important to note that the Nominal Defendant Scheme operates only in relation to accidents which occur on a on a road or road related area. It should be noted in this regard, that the definition of "road related area" contained in both the Motor Accidents Act 1988 and the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997 is broad, incorporating as it does:

a) an area that divides a road, or
b) a footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road, or
c) an area that is open to the public and is designed for use by cyclists or animals, or
d) an area that is not a road and that is open to or used by the public for driving, riding or parking motor vehicles.

The Nominal Defendant Scheme is administered by the Motor Accidents Authority. This cover is only available in NSW.

Personal Liability Cover
The personal liability cover extended as part of a Home Contents Insurance Policy is the best option for coverage not given by the Nominal Defendant Scheme. Not all insurers offer this extended cover.

Ask your insurer the following questions. If you don't like what you hear, shop around.
. Do you have a policy that will cover my motorised wheelchair if it is damaged or stolen?
. Will this policy also provide cover for damage my motorised wheelchair my cause others, including personal and property damage?
. Does the cover extend outside the site (my home) and within Australia and what is the value of this cover? (Typically it should be $10 million).
. Am I covered on public roads as well as private property?
. Are there any exemptions?