In the second part of a two-part series on the Highway Code and mobility scooters, Quingo take a closer look at what the Highway Code says about driving on the road.

In our last blogpost we talked about the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles as well as driving your Quingo on pavements.

Mobility scooters and the Highway Code: Driving on roads

When driving on the road the Highway Code states that Class 3 vehicles should drive in the direction of the traffic, whilst Class 2 users should always use the pavement in situations where it’s possible. If you’re travelling at night, lights must be used and you should travel in the direction of the traffic so as not to confuse other road users.

It’s important to remember that you must follow the same rules about using lights, horns and indicators that apply to cars and other vehicles on the road.

You should be aware that other road users may not be able to see you as scooters are less visible than cars. For instance, you should ensure that you’re as visible as possible. You could do this, for example, by wearing a reflective jacket when driving your Quingo.

Dealing with junctions safely

You should take greater care at road junctions. The Highway Code points out that when you’re driving straight ahead, you should check to see that there are no vehicles about to cross your path from either the left or right, or overtaking you and turning left at the approaching junction.

There are a number of ways you can deal with right turns, particularly when turning from a major road. If you encounter a situation where moving into the middle of the road can be potentially awkward or dangerous, you can stop on the left-hand side of the road and patiently wait for a safe gap in the traffic.

Alternatively, you could negotiate the turn as a pedestrian by, for example, travelling along the pavement and crossing the road between the pavements where it’s safe for you to do so.

If the junction you want to navigate is too hazardous, you might wish to consider using another route for your journey. It may be safer for you to use the pavement for example. However, if you’re driving a Class 3 vehicle on the pavement you must remember to reduce your speed to no more than 4mph.

Parking your Quingo

As far as parking your Quingo goes, the Highway Code states that “all normal parking restrictions should be observed.”

Your Quingo 5 wheel scooter shouldn’t be left unattended in a place where it can cause an obstruction to other pedestrians – especially those in wheelchairs.

It’s worth noting that under the Blue Badge scheme, all vehicles that display a valid Blue Badge can benefit from parking concessions.