Mobility scooter users in Great Yarmouth tackled slaloms, slopes, crossings and cones, today as part of a pioneering course designed to improve safety.

Dozens of people took part in the course hosted by Norfolk Constabulary at the Kings Centre with the aim of improving safety awareness for users and building their confidence.

Participants also got to watch the Constabulary’s new film ‘Safe Scoot’, which has been produced in partnership withleading mobility retailer, Halfords and narrated by Sheila Reid, star of hit ITV series “Benidorm”.

After completing the course members of the public were invited to give their feedback and raise any road safety concerns they may have been experiencing.

People were also asked what obstacles caused the biggest problems on the highway with several people identifying narrow pavements and road works as examples.

Bradwell resident Thomas Antill, 72, has used a mobility scooter for almost five years and enjoyed taking part in the course. He said: “I thought the course was very good and I think it’s important that people who operate a scooter understand how to use it safely.”

At present, riders to not need to sit a test to use a mobility scooter and unlike other vehicles, insurance is not required by law.

Jim Rawlings, senior information officer with national disability charity Mobilise, said he would support a move by the government to introduce legislation.

He said: “As a charity we have been involved in consultation with the government about potential changes in legislation and improvements in training is something we strongly advocate.”

The charity has more than 15,000 members across the country and Mr Rawlings said he’d heard of several incidents where people using scooters in confined spaces had caused injury to others.

He said: “Some of these scooters can travel at up to eight miles per hour so if you were hit by one you would certainly know about it. I think to introduce a training course such as this is a good move.”

Fifty-eight-year-old Gill Akerman, from Caister, took part in the first awareness course held at the Marina Centre in Yarmouth in March 2009 and also features in ‘Safe Scoot’.

She said: “I found the course difficult because it is very narrow in parts, but it is realistic to the obstacles mobility scooter users face.”

Mrs Akerman, who suffers with a chronic lung condition, has used a mobility scooter for six years and would be virtually housebound without it. “The scooter has transformed my life as I wouldn’t even be able to 2-300 yards to the shops.”

And the former motorbike rider believes training is the way forward for scooters users. “It’s important not only for other road users by scooter users themselves.”

The course received national recognition when Superintendent Jim Smerdon and crime prevention officer Penny Carpenter were invited to present evidence to the Transport Select Committee as part of an inquiry into the use of mobility scooters.

Supt Smerdon said: “The fact there is no training requirement for mobility scooter users raises the issue of road safety. The ability to be mobile is extremely important for people, however we need to ensure that people use mobility scooters in a safe and appropriate manner.”

Halfords is the first major retailer to offer a credible mobility range in 248 superstores and on line, and offers customers purchasing products expert advise and demonstrations on how to drive the vehicles.

Natalie Scott, Halfords Mobility expert said: “In sponsoring the Safe Scoot campaign we are able to make invaluable safety awareness material available to all our customers, as well as, raising the awareness of this very important issue to users and their carers.

For more information about Safe Scoot visit the Safe Scoot section on our website and www.halfords.com.