Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Transport has announced that it is the responsibility of local Police Forces to prosecute mobility scooter users if they exceed the legal speed limit on pavements.
Lord Callanan reacted to questions regarding the safety of pedestrians, and whilst reminded that the maximum speed limit for mobility scooter users on a pavement is 4mph, Callanan reinforced that local Police Forces would be responsible for enforcing of the Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1998 Act.
The Act, which also states mobility scooters on the pavement must not exceed 113.4kgs in weight and must be fitted with a speed indicator capable of restricting them to 4mph on the pavement was bought about in 1998 to ensure pedestrians safety, however Lord Blencathra believes there has been a ‘flagrant disregard of those legal requirements.’
While Callanan ensures ‘Protecting pedestrians and all road users is a key priority,’ he assures, ‘we have some of the safest roads in the world but are always looking at ways to make them safer.’