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Question

Difficulty: MediumPowered Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters

You are driving along an urban street behind a mobility scooter travelling on the carriageway. Why should you allow extra clearance and be prepared for the rider to steer away from the kerb unexpectedly?

  1. A
    The rider is legally required to move into the centre of the lane before stopping
  2. The rider may need to avoid road surface hazards such as potholes, puddles, or drain coversAnswer
  3. C
    The rider will need to move out to compensate for severe blind spots before turning
  4. D
    The rider is attempting to match the speed of surrounding traffic flow

Answer

The rider may need to avoid road surface hazards such as potholes, puddles, or drain covers
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs have small wheels and low clearance, making them vulnerable to uneven road surfaces, potholes, grates, and debris. Riders often need to steer towards the centre of the road to negotiate these hazards safely, so drivers must leave ample clearance and anticipate sudden changes of direction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the physical handling characteristics of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Mobility scooters have small wheels, light frames, and low ground clearance compared to motor vehicles.
Understanding vehicle characteristics explains why road surface defects impact mobility scooter riders significantly more than car drivers.
2
Assess how common carriageway defects influence the rider's travel path.
Defects such as sunken drain covers, potholes, puddles, and accumulated debris can destabilise the scooter, prompting the rider to swerve into the carriageway.
Anticipating this behaviour allows following drivers to leave a safe buffer and prevent collisions.
3
Determine the required driver behaviour.
Drivers must stay back, keep a wide following distance, and give ample room when overtaking.
Providing generous clearance accommodates sudden path changes safely.

Key Concept

Driver anticipation and providing extra room for mobility scooters dealing with road surface hazards
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Powered Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters

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