Category Archives: Wellbeing

Wellbeing

Mobility Scooters and the Highway Code – Part 1

Our customers’ safety and welfare is our main priority. In the first blog post of two parts, the Quingo team want to look at the Highway Code and what it has to say surrounding mobility scooters.

What is the Highway Code?

The Highway Code is a compendium of advice, information, guides and mandatory rules for all road users in the UK. Its main purpose is to promote safety on the roads.

The Highway Code applies to pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcycles, drivers and mobility scooter users. It’s prepared and updated by the Department for Transport and the Driving Standards Agency.

First published in 1931 as an 18-page booklet, the Highway Code has been regularly updated ever since to reflect the changing nature of Britain’s roads.

The difference between Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles

The Highway Code places mobility scooters into two separate categories: Class 2 and Class 3. Class 2 vehicles can’t go any faster than 4mph and are designed to be used on pavements.

Examples of Class 2 vehicles include the Quingo Classic, the Quingo Flyte, the Quingo Compact and the Quingo Air. Class 2 users should always use the pavement where it’s available. Where there is no pavement, due caution should always be taken.

Class 3 vehicles include the Quingo Plus, the Quingo Vitess and the Quingo Toura. These scooters have a maximum speed of 8mph and are equipped to be used on the road as well as the pavement. This topic is also included in the FAQs section of this website.

Mobility scooters and the Highway Code: Driving on pavements

When driving your scooter, you should be aware that pavements are safer than roads and they should be used when available. The Highway Code also observes that you should give pedestrians priority and show consideration of other pavement users.

Quingo Scooters
A Quingo scooter user on the pavement

If your Quingo 5 wheel scooter can go faster than 4mph, it’s important to remember that you mustn’t go any faster than this speed in pedestrian areas or on pavements. You might have to reduce your speed to adjust to other pavement users who might not be able to get out of your way quickly enough, or in situations where the pavement’s too narrow.

Special care should be taken when moving off the pavement onto to road. You should always look around and make sure it’s safe to join the traffic. When driving back onto the pavement, you shouldn’t try and negotiate a kerb that’s higher than the specifications outlined in your Quingo’s individual handbook & service manual.

Safety and mobility

Your safety when driving your Quingo is our main priority. That’s why we recommend to all of our customers to regularly refer to the Highway Code – the number one resource for road safety.

Keep a lookout for our next blog post in which we’ll be talking about what you need to consider when driving your Quingo on the roads.

Wellbeing

Useful tips for driving your Quingo scooter

Today, the Quingo team wants to give you a few points to bear in mind when driving your scooter, which will help you have the best possible experience, whilst retaining maximum levels of security and comfort.

Quingo Scooters
The Quingo team share some useful tips on driving your Quingo

 

What you need to know before driving your Quingo

Before purchasing your Quingo, an advisor will have talked you through everything you need to know to ensure you have the safest and most enjoyable experience.

Here’s an outline of some of the key points to consider:

  1. Before driving your Quingo, make sure you get comfortable. Remember – you should always place your feet on the footplates.
  2. At this point, you can switch your Quingo on and check to see if the battery level indicator is in the green area. If not, you should charge your Quingo. We’ve written a useful guide to charging your Quingo’s batteries on this blog.
  3. Pull in your right hand accelerator lever slowly for your vehicle to move off. The more you pull the lever, the faster your Quingo will go. As you get more accustomed to the lever’s functionality, you can increase the speed.
  4. To brake, release the lever. If you become unsure or if you feel unsafe then release the lever.
  5. When turning, slow down and look in the direction you wish to travel. If you come up to a blind corner you should sound your horn.
  6. If you’re taking any new medication it’s very important that you check with your doctor or physician that your ability to drive your Quingo won’t be affected.
  7. To get off your Quingo, make sure that you’ve stopped safely on a flat area. Remember to turn off the ignition and remove the key before getting off.

Maximum safety and comfort on your travels

We want you to have as safe and enjoyable experience as possible on your journeys; following these points will help you get the most out your Quingo 5 wheel scooter. This information can also be found in your Quingo’s handbook & service manual.

To read the Highway Code regarding mobility scooters you can visit gov.uk to find out more about the rules governing driving mobility scooters both on the road and on pavements.

Wellbeing

Exercises you can do on your Quingo

The Quingo team want to help you to improve your mobility and overall wellbeing whilst helping you to keep active and get out and about. With this in mind we want to highlight some gentle and effective exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo.*

Quingo scooters offer supreme comfort

As a Quingo scooter user, you’re already sitting in the best anatomical position which will help to prevent aches and pains from sitting down too long. If you also want to keep active while on your scooter here are some gentle exercises to help improve circulation and reduce stiffness.


Whilst the Quingo team would always advise that you check with your G.P. before undertaking any form of exercise, having limited mobility may not necessarily mean that exercise is not for you. It just means that you have to make sure you choose an exercise routine that’s right for your own level of mobility and fitness.

Start slowly and increase your activity level little by little. You’ll soon start to reap the benefits.

A few exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo

Here are a few quick and gentle exercises you can perform on your Quingo:

  • Write the Alphabet with Your Toes: This is an extremely effective exercise. Using your feet, point your toes and write out each letter of the alphabet. Do one foot at a time then repeat with the other. The different shapes this exercise forces you to make with your toes makes you stimulate ankle motion in every direction. This is a great way to get the blood flowing and to keep your feet warm.
  • Rotate Your Feet: This simple ankle exercise will help reduce stiffness in your ankles after long journeys. Rotate your foot clockwise for 15 seconds, then anti-clockwise for another 15 seconds.
  • Foot Pumps: This exercise will work really well with your adaptive footplates. Place your feet flat on the footplates. Keeping your heels on the footplates, point your toes up as far as you can. Then keep your toes on the footplates and raise your heels. Repeat five times.
  • Neck Roll: This exercise improves circulation in your upper body. Gently drop your ear to your shoulder then roll your head around to the other shoulder. Repeat 10 times.
  • Shoulder Roll: Gently roll your shoulders forward five times, then roll them backwards five times.

Stay Active

Staying active can help to reduce stiffness in muscles and can go a long way towards improving blood circulation, which will also help you to keep warm. Just a few minutes exercise a day can make a noticeable difference to your overall wellbeing.

*Please do not attempt any of these exercises whilst driving your Quingo. Make sure the engine is turned off, the key is removed, and that you have enough room to do the exercises without coming into contact with anything around you.