Yay. It’s time to head out again…but please do a quick check before you go.
Finally, Spring is on its way and with the fine weather comes the desire to get out on your mobility scooter and explore the community again. Whilst there’s no warranty of fitness for a mobility scooter (unlike a car), there are some things we encourage users to do before heading out. Here are some:
- Tyres – check your tyre pressure is around 34 psi as this impacts on the steering and performance of your scooter, especially the range you can travel.
- Battery – keep your battery charged. Unlike some old-style batteries there’s no need to let your batteries drain right down and then top them back up. These days you can top them up even if you’ve only been on a short journey.
- Clean – give your scooter a wipe over. Clean all the surfaces with detergent and a cloth to remove any built-up dust or dirt.
- Check – as with a car it pays to regularly get your scooter checked by a service technician to ensure everything is working fine and there are no issues which might emerge. As they say, “a stitch in time saves nine”, so have your scooter checked thoroughly by a professional to keep you moving.
- You – take the time to do short trips and get the feel for your mobility scooter again. Many scooter retailers also offer group mobility scooter safety courses. This is a good way to ensure your skills are still sharp, and that you haven’t accidentally picked up any bad habits. It’s also worth thinking about medications you take which might affect you when you’re out. Have you started new blood pressure medications for example. If unsure, check in with your doctor as you need to be safe.
- Be Seen – are you and your scooter visible to others? Be sure that both you and your scooter are visible. Does your scooter have a safety flag? Do you have some high visibility clothing on? Always remember that just because you’ve seen someone it doesn’t mean they’ve seen you.
- Dress Safe – while we encourage you to dress for the conditions, please take into consideration whether your clothing could impact on your ability to safely use the scooter. Does the hood of your jacket restrict what you can see? Could your scarf get caught in the wheels? Do gloves impact on your ability to use the controls?
This could also be a good time to think about whether your mobility scooter needs replacing.
If it’s starting to prove unreliable, not going as far without losing battery power or costing a lot of money to repair, then you might want to ask a service technician to do a service check on your scooter so that you get an expert opinion.
For even more peace of mind, you could purchase AA Roadside Assistance. A roadside assistant can uplift your scooter as well as help you get home if you break down in a metropolitan area. It’s comforting for you and your family, to know that you are covered.
Enjoy your mobility adventures and keep safe.