Mobility scooters provide a safe and helpful means of transportation for many Americans who could not otherwise move around easily. They are designed with safety in mind, but there are still several things that you should do to ensure that you have a safe and secure ride. Occasionally the opportunity may present itself to use a public street or road way. Not only is this generally illegal, but it is also can be very unsafe. It is hard for a person in a car or truck to see someone in an electric mobility scooter. Instead it is better to use sidewalks or paths that are not traveled by automobiles. You should always obey all local pedestrian laws as well. When crossing roads, even though you may have the right of way, you should always wait until the path is clear and ensure that you will have enough time to cross the road before you are confronted with traffic.
There are many obstacles that you will encounter while using your mobility scooter. Perhaps the most common is the curb. Most electric mobility scooters are designed so that they can navigate curbs that are of a certain height. This in part has to do with the ground clearance of your scooter. For instance a scooter with a ground clearance of 2.5 inches will probably only be able to navigate curbs that are about 2 inches high. Before attempting to navigate a curb or obstacle ensure that you have checked your manual for the maximum height that can be safely climbed by your particular electric mobility scooter. Always make sure you approach the curb as straight as possible because if you attempt to climb a curb at an angle your electric mobility scooter is much more likely to tip over.
While using your electric mobility scooter you will in time need to navigate doors and elevators. To open a door while on your electric mobility scooter first determine if the door opens towards you or away from you. If the door opens towards you then turn the door handle and while holding the handle slowly and very gently reverse so that the door opens. If the door opens away from you then turn the door handle and while holding it slowly and extremely move your electric mobility scooter forward and push the door open with your electric mobility scooter. When you are using an elevator do not panic if the door starts to close while you are still moving through. Modern elevator doors are designed to open back up if they encounter an obstacle. If the door starts to close calmly push on the rubber door edge and the elevator door will open up again.
Most electric mobility scooters are not designed to be used in inclement or poor weather conditions. If it is raining, snowing, or extremely cold or hot than you should avoid using your electric mobility scooter. Of course it is impossible to always avoid these types of conditions, so if you get caught in a shower seek shelter as soon as possible and thoroughly dry your electric mobility scooter. It is also important to be very careful when getting on and off of your electric mobility scooter. Remove the key from the start switch to ensure that you do not accidentally hit the throttle while exiting or entering the unit. If your electric mobility scooter has a parking break make sure that it is properly set. Many electric mobility scooters feature a swiveling chair that makes it much easier to get on and off of the device. If your chair swivels ensure that it is in a locked position before getting in or out. If your chair does not swivel then raise the armrest on the side that you would like to mount or dismount. As you get on or off of your electric mobility scooter you should avoid putting too much weight on the floor board of the scooter as this can promote tipping.
Always ensure that you have completely read and understand the user manual before you attempt to operate your new electric mobility scooter. They are designed to be as safe as possible, but unsafe usage can result in serious injury.
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