Powered mobility device users are being overlooked in road safety policy despite an estimated 500,000-850,000 people now using mobility scooters and powerchairs in the UK, according to a briefing from PACTS.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) says collisions involving mobility scooters have increased significantly in recent years, while a lack of reliable data, inconsistent training and complex rules are making it difficult to understand – and reduce – the risks faced by users.
The organisation’s briefing on powered mobility device safety estimates that the number of users has grown from around 300,000-350,000 in 2014, based on annual growth of 5-10%.
Department for Transport data shows that recorded collisions involving mobility scooters increased by 44% between 2015 and 2024, while collisions resulting in serious injury increased by between 55% and 75% over the same period.
PACTS says mobility scooters are one of only a small number of road user categories to have experienced increases in injuries and fatalities. Although fewer than 20 fatalities involving mobility scooters are recorded each year, it says the figures warrant investigation under a Safe System and Vision Zero approach.
The briefing also highlights the benefits that powered mobility devices provide, including greater independence, community participation, social engagement and quality of life.
However, PACTS says there is a major gap in understanding how and where the devices are being used, as well as the circumstances surrounding collisions and other incidents.
Complex rules
PACTS argues that the current legal framework is difficult for users and other road users to understand.
Mobility scooters and powerchairs are legally classified as ‘invalid carriages’, with different rules applying according to their classification.
Class 2 scooters have a maximum speed of 4mph, while Class 3 scooters can travel at up to 8mph and can be used on the road. Some devices fall outside the existing classifications altogether.
PACTS says many road users would be unable to identify which class a mobility scooter belongs to simply by looking at it, making it difficult to predict where it can be used and how its user is likely to behave.
The organisation also highlights the Highway Code, which classifies powered mobility device users as pedestrians but does not consistently identify them as a distinct group.
PACTS says this can create confusion, particularly because powered mobility device users can behave differently from pedestrians travelling on foot.
Training ‘limited and inconsistent’
The briefing also raises concerns about training.
Research cited by PACTS found that only 38% of mobility scooter users had received any training, with most training focused on familiarisation with the vehicle’s controls.
PACTS says training provision across the UK is inconsistent, while the evidence base for determining what types of training are most effective remains limited.
Research has, however, identified a range of hazards faced by mobility scooter users, including other road and pavement users, road and pavement design, visibility and problems at crossings.
A training programme developed from this research, See and Scoot, was found to encourage safer behaviours and help users develop better strategies for dealing with hazards.
PACTS says more than 90% of users believe more could be done to promote safe use, while only 34% strongly agreed that they felt safe when using their mobility scooter.
Calls for action
PACTS is calling for a coordinated response from government, industry and the charity sector.
Its recommendations include improving understanding of how powered mobility devices are used, collecting better data on incidents and collisions, and developing evidence-based safety guidance and training.
It also wants future legislation to be simpler and make road-user behaviour more predictable, particularly as the distinction between powered mobility devices and other forms of micromobility becomes increasingly blurred.
The organisation is additionally calling for the Highway Code to contain more examples involving powered mobility devices and for them to be explicitly recognised within the Hierarchy of Road Users.
PACTS says the Department for Transport’s consultation on the laws governing powered mobility devices, launched in January 2026, is a positive step but does not go far enough.
It concludes that powered mobility device users have been “ignored for too long” from a road safety perspective.
As their numbers continue to grow, PACTS says there is an urgent need for better data, clearer rules and improved education – both for powered mobility device users and the wider road-using public.
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