Powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters are used by many disabled people, including those with spinal cord injuries, to give them the independence they need to live their lives.

Aspire are responding to a new Government consultation on powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters. These two vehicles are treated as one in current legislation and a consultation from the Department for Transport is asking whether a distinction between them should be made.

There is recognition that with an ageing population there is a strong likelihood of ever more people using mobility vehicles. As the numbers increase, safety concerns around users, pedestrians and other road users have risen in the media, and in Parliament.

Actual evidence shows that incidence of injury is very low but there are still concerns on design standards and whether the controls over who uses and owns powered wheelchairs and scooters are appropriate.

The Government has opened the consultation to gauge opinion on these issues. We are running a focus group on Friday 9th April and we have created a survey to help get your views so that we can include them in our response to the Government.

For further information on Aspire campaigns, email Krupesh or call him on 020 8420 6702.