Imagine this. 

It's a sunny morning and your new mobility scooter has finally arrived. The friendly delivery driver has given you a demo, carried out the safety checks, passed over the scooter keys and waved you goodbye. 

It's perfect driving conditions and you're excited to give your new wheels a spin. But before you jump on and head into town to show off your new scooter, as with all new rides, it's important to carry out a few checks before you're on your way. 

Let's get started. 

Before your first journey 

Practice makes perfect 

Find a clear, quiet space near home to warm up with your new scooter. An empty car park or end of terrace close are safe places to get familiar with your new scooter and build up your confidence. Google Maps is a great way to find practice spots. Use the ‘street view’ option to scout out an area before you arrive. 

Firstly, get comfortable with your seat. Adjust the height and distance from the tiller, so you are in easy reach of the handle bars. This makes for safer, more secure steering. If you want an extra boost you can always look into seat cushions - anything to make you feel snug and secure. Our favourite places to pick up a good quality but affordable seat cushion are Amazon and Ebay. 

Once you've settled in, practice your turning technique, play around with different speeds, and get a feel for braking. If you have a horn or lights, check that they work and are easy to use. Everything must be comfortable and close to give you as much control as possible. 

Start small

The first trip out on your new scooter should be a short journey along a familiar route. An example could be your morning milk run, posting some letters, or travelling to and from the bus stop.

A top tip is to avoid taking your scooter out for its first ride during peak times - so avoid the school run or the lunchtime rush. Off peak trips allow you to take your time and navigate your route without too many obstacles - school children and puppies included!

Have patience & positivity 

Scooters are very easy to drive, but sometimes it's not the scooter that's the problem. It's natural to feel nervous or anxious before heading out on your scooter. Having patience with yourself and staying calm will allow you to experience a smoother, more enjoyable ride. 

Psychology Today explains that being patient with yourself is really important if you want to successfully adjust to new changes. Not only that, but speaking positively to yourself will do so much for your self confidence. As they say, ‘fake it until you make it’, can actually have some benefit here and help you get to grips with your new scooter faster than first expected.

When you're out & about

Pavement etiquette 

Always remember that there is a 4 mph speed limit for mobility scooters in pedestrianised areas. Even if your scooter has the capability to reach speeds of 6 or 8 mph, you must stay within the 4 mph limit, for your safety and for that of others. 

You'd be surprised how fast 4 mph can actually feel once you experience it on your scooter. According to Motability it's roughly the speed of (fast!) walking humans - so don't underestimate it! 

It's also good etiquette to be aware of those around you - avoid using your horn too much. Instead, utilise your mirrors and indicators when you want to make a move in pedestrianised areas. 

A note of caution from our community! Dropped kerbs can sometimes be too high for a scooter to climb. Sadly they are the main cause of very rare, but still common, accidents. Our advice is to approach kerbs slowly. This will give you enough time to estimate the kerb’s height, and whether or not your scooter will be able to climb it. 

If it's looking too high, don't fear. Simply look for a sloped corner to transfer on and off the road. There is always a safer option close by.

On road rules 

If you're taking your mobility scooter onto the main roads you will need to avoid bus lanes and cycle lanes. You'll also need to keep your amber lights flashing for the duration of your journey. GOV UK thoroughly lists their official advice online, so you can cross check everything for peace of mind.

As a reminder, you'll need to stick to The Highway Code and respect the vehicles around you. The Highway Code is simple to follow and is luckily quite common sense based. 

Equally, if you notice rough, slippery or uneven surfaces, be safe and take the longer route around. Potholes are another issue to be aware of. According to the RAC, the UK has around 1 million potholes, a number which is increasing year on year. Keeping vigilant on and off the road will keep you safe and steady when using your mobility scooter. 

Exploring further afield

One of the greatest benefits of owning a mobility scooter is getting outdoors and exploring the world beyond your front door. There is so much of the UK to enjoy and a mobility scooter is the perfect companion to take along for the ride. For a taste of what you could experience, our friends at Access the Dales have a brilliant list of accessible outdoor experiences for you and your mobility scooter to discover. 

Whether it's your local park or further afield, always avoid taking unnecessary risks. That includes staying a safe distance away from open water, railway tracks and road works. If you want a bit of extra reassurance, hi-vis items are a great idea, especially in the darker months. Hi-vis of all shapes and sizes will be stocked in your local handyman shop. Online, Robert Dyas have an affordable option, whilst Amazon offers plenty of hi-vis accessories. 

When it comes to the path in front of you, always try to avoid driving your scooter through mud, sand or rough-looking gravel. Puddles can also be deceptively dangerous. If you find that they are deeper than first thought, you run the risk of flooding your footwell or, worse still, damaging your scooter’s delicate electronic circuitry.

If you have an all-terrain scooter, these surfaces will be a lot safer to travel across. In these situations, feel confident to use your better judgement. If you're heading out on an adventure, Disabled Ramblers have a brilliant guide to help you enjoy the countryside with your scooter safely. 

After & in between use 

Care & maintenance 

If you're like us, you might be sceptical of any cleaning that refers to itself as ‘light’. But when it comes to mobility scooters, a ‘light clean’ really is as simple as a quick wipe down with a damp cloth. 

Light cleaning goes a really long way when it comes to the health of your mobility scooter. If you can dedicate just 5 minutes to cleaning your scooter each time you use it, you can extend its life by years. 

Dust and grime can build up over time and cause havoc with your scooter's controls and overall functionality. Avoid this by wiping a lightly dampened cloth over your scooter’s exterior - not forgetting the handlebars and seat.  

There are many fantastic resources online that offer advice on how to conduct a daily clean across all your gizmos and gadgets. Pick up a few ideas from Good Housekeeping, who has an impressive list of cleaning hacks for everything from the ultimate deep clean, to the power of microfibre cloths. 

Once a week give your scooter seat a once-over to check for any tears or signs of damage. A seemingly harmless tear can soon turn into a nasty rip that can threaten to expose the delicate padding within. Once the inner materials become exposed, they can degrade and severely impact the shape of your seat and, more importantly, your overall comfort. Argos have a good choice of seat covers that can help to protect your chair all year around, come rain or shine. 

If you've been exploring the great outdoors in your all-terrain scooter give your wheels a once over - avoid getting water into the frame or on the electrical componentry. Dislodge any gravel, leaves or twigs that could cause issues on your next journey. 

Storage requirements 

When you're not using your scooter, keep it stored in a dry, cool space - ideally under lock and key. Scooters are valuable items and whilst thefts are rare, it's always better to be safe than sorry. You can't beat Robert Dyas for a great selection of different locks and security accessories to keep your scooter safe and secure. 

Battery health tips 

When your scooter is not in use, don't be scared of giving the batteries a quick top-up. Keeping batteries fully charged inbetween use will benefit your scooter’s overall power and performance in the long run. The best bit? You can do this overnight without worrying about overcharging. 

Paul from West Worthing is one of our long standing customers. He has a fantastic tip: "I always charge my scooter overnight so I can wake up to a full charge and get going straight away. The scooter battery pack turns off once it's fully charged, so I don't have to keep an eye on it or worry about high electricity bills.”

Our in-house expert Bill has another fantastic tip for keeping batteries in excellent condition: “one of the main causes of battery damage is from repeatedly running your scooter’s power down flat. Keep your scooter batteries fully charged as often as possible, and it will go a long way to extending their performance and life."

Before your next trip out

If you've looked after your scooter well in between uses, you can be out of the door in minutes when it comes to your next trip out. Before you leave, use our quick-fire checklist to ensure the day ahead goes as smoothly as you deserve it to go. 

Final checks:

- Make sure you have a full charge on your scooter as well as your mobile phone
- Check the weather before you leave - pack waterproofs if it looks likely to rain, or a hat if you're in luck for sunshine! 
- Check for punctures or tears along your tyres. If your scooter wheels look even and full, you're good to go