Aged Care Insite Issue 92 | December 2015 - January 2016 | Page 21

practical living

So, we need to make sure we’re providing a good, safe
environment so these alternative transport modes won’t increase
the risk of injury to older people.

What are some of the key contributors to these presentations?
I think there’s a number of things we can look at as contributing
factors. If we look at the environment people are using the mobility
scooters in – such as the footpath, which many people use – it isn’t
really set up for mobility scooters. It’s set up for walkers.
I think there are some real issues in terms of providing safe
environments for mobility scooters. We need to start looking at
maybe even separate networks for mobility scooters.
Also, if the footpaths aren’t set up well – and many aren’t
maintained well for mobility scooters – some users may actually use
the roadway. That’s a very, very dangerous thing. If they’re driving
their mobility scooters on the road, that means they are interacting
with fast-moving vehicles, which puts them at much, much greater
risk of being involved in a crash and having a serious injury.
We also need to look at making sure people are fit to be
operating these devices. There is some suggestion that maybe
some people don’t have the fitness to operate a mobility scooter.

The paper highlighted issues related to safety and the
integration of the scooters into the existing transport network.
What are some of the government responses needed to ensure
safe outcomes for everyone on the roads?
There are a number of issues the government can be
[investigating]. There’s little regulation of the design or purchase
of mobility scooters. They were initially designed and regulated
for people with a disability, so [that’s something the government
could look into].

What else can be done on a community level to make the
experience safer for older adults?
always say to them, if we can keep you in the car for as long as
possible, that’s the safest option. However, we also know that
there comes the time when people might have to think about
reducing driving or even stopping. We also know that’s a big,
big decision.
There is evidence to suggest that if people don’t plan ahead
and make [the decision themselves to stop driving] and look at
alternative transport options, it can be quite devastating in terms of
reduced mobility and independence, as well as lead to the onset
of more medical conditions. So we need to look at how we can
promote alternative transport modes.

You co-authored a paper on motorised mobility scooter use
among older Australians. What trends were revealed about the
use of the scooters?
We looked at injury data. From 2004 to about 2007, there wasn’t
an increase in injuries. But from then until probably the last couple
of years, there has been quite an increase, particularly among
older users.
Now that could well be because the mobility scooter has
become more popular, or it could mean it is quite a risky
alternative transport mode for some older road users.
We need to do a lot more research on that. We know that
the car is the safest mode of transport. If we’re promoting
mobility and using other forms of transport – whether it’s
walking or cycling or using a mobility scooter – people are more
vulnerable, because they haven’t got the protection of a car
around them.

I think many local communities and councils are interested in
making sure their areas are suitable for mobility scooters. We’ve
talked with a lot of councils that are keen to promote healthy
travel for their community members and are looking to make sure
they are providing physical environments that support the use of
mobility scooters. I think more councils will be designing their
public spaces to support more mobility scooters.

Why is it important that we get this right, from not just a safety
but a lifestyle point of view?
I think it gets back to that whole issue of making sure our older
population is still able to be mobile. Mobility scooters provide a
great opportunity for people who can’t drive or can’t walk long
distances. These devices can start to replace shorter trips [in cars],
rather than walking or cycling. We would certainly be looking to
promote as much of this transport mode as we can, while also
ensuring that a safe environment is provided for it.

What message would you send to an older person looking to
hit the roads on a mobility scooter for the first time?
An older person should be looking at exactly what they want
to use a mobility scooter for. If it is to engage, or go to shops to
do their normal daily errands, that would be a great thing. They
should make sure they know the environment they are potentially
going to be in is going to be a safe one. And maybe they should
even plan ahead and determine the safest and easiest way to use
the scooter – and where they should use it as well. They should
also make sure they’re going at safe speeds. ■
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