Advisory group call for greater focus on powered mobility devices

Powered mobility device users are being overlooked in road safety policy, despite an estimated 500,000-850,000 people using mobility scooters and powerchairs in the UK, PACTS says.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety says collisions involving mobility scooters are rising, while poor data, inconsistent training and complex rules are hindering efforts to reduce risk.

Its briefing on powered mobility device safety estimates that user numbers have risen from around 300,000-350,000 in 2014.

Department for Transport data shows recorded mobility scooter collisions rose by 44% between 2015 and 2024, with serious-injury collisions increasing by 55-75%.

Fewer than 20 fatalities are recorded each year, but PACTS says the trend warrants investigation under Safe System and Vision Zero principles.

The devices support independence and community participation, but PACTS says too little is known about how they are used or the circumstances surrounding incidents.

Complex rules
PACTS says the legal framework is difficult to understand. Mobility scooters and powerchairs are classed as ‘invalid carriages’, with rules varying by category.

Class 2 devices are limited to 4mph, while Class 3 devices can travel at up to 8mph and be used on roads. Some devices fall outside these classifications.

PACTS says other road users may struggle to identify a device’s class and predict where it can be used.

The Highway Code treats powered mobility device users as pedestrians but does not consistently recognise them as a distinct group, which PACTS says can create confusion.

Training ‘limited and inconsistent’
Only 38% of users had received training, according to research cited by PACTS, and most instruction focused on vehicle controls.

PACTS says training is inconsistent and evidence on what works remains limited. Research identifies hazards including other road and pavement users, poor design, visibility and crossings.

The See and Scoot programme was found to encourage safer behaviour and help users manage hazards.

More than 90% of users believe more should be done to promote safety, while only 34% strongly agreed they felt safe using their scooter.

Calls for action
PACTS wants a coordinated response from government, industry and charities.

It recommends better data, evidence-based guidance and training, simpler legislation, and clearer recognition of powered mobility devices in the Highway Code and Hierarchy of Road Users.

PACTS says the Department for Transport’s January 2026 consultation on powered mobility device laws is positive but does not go far enough.

It concludes that powered mobility device users have been “ignored for too long” from a road safety perspective.

With user numbers growing, it says better data, clearer rules and improved education are urgently needed.