Recently amended legal statutes and advances in road technologies have made it increasingly easy for the both medically and physically handicapped persons to be mobile and less constrained by their disabilities.

It used to be that crutches and wheelchairs were the only mobility aid they enjoyed. Now there are more sophisticate mobility aids like motorized invalid carriages that can provide reasonably safe and efficient transport of disabled people outside their homes.

Types of Mobility Scooters

Three and four-wheeled electric mobility scooters abound that are basically derived from your typical motor bikes and scooters used for short-range transport. Compared to older gas-powered scooters using combustion engines, the electric variant uses rechargeable batteries to power them.

The DVLA or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has categorized these motorized invalid carriages into three category classes based on the recently amended Invalid Carriages on the Highways Regulations of 1988.

The more pertinent categories are Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles. The former do not require registration and licensing with the DVLA as they don’t speed up to more than 4mph.

The latter require one as they are more powerful and are required to fit suitable devices that can limit their speeds to at most 4mph. Despite the required registration and licensing to the disabled person, no registration plates for WEV exemption are required.

And though it’s not required by law, electric mobility scooter insurance is often recommended. Insurances premiums are not that expensive and should be taken to cover a disabled person’s personal safety, as well as that of other people and the value of the mobility carriage or properties that may be destroyed resulting from any accident in using one.

Because of limited range and speeds, electric mobility scooter manufacturers abound and have essentially proved more popular among the disabled as power source is easy. You only need to charge their batteries overnight and they can be used with the short distance on footways throughout the city.

Advantages and Limitations

Many disabled and invalid persons prefer these scooters to wheelchairs when exercising their mobility freedoms. They look better on them and dispenses with traditional image of decrepitude associated with seating on a wheelchair, even if motorized.

The only problem is that most motorized scooters require you to sit up and maintain an upright posture, as well as shoulder and hand strength to control and navigate your way with them. People with medical conditions that render this position unattainable would be better advised to use wheelchairs instead.