A pioneering course designed to improve the safety of mobility scooter users has won support from a national disability charity.

Mobilise, a Norfolk-based charity which campaigns on behalf of disabled motorists, is backing Norfolk Constabulary’s DVD and safety awareness course Safe Scoot, launched in Great Yarmouth earlier this year.

Produced in partnership with mobility retailer Halfords, Safe Scoot aims to improve safety awareness among mobility scooter users by increasing their confidence when carrying out manoeuvres such as parking, reversing and negotiating kerbs.

Mobility scooter users currently require no training or insurance for the vehicles, some of which can travel up to eight miles per hour. The lack of official training and insurance requirements has led Mobilise to campaign for changes in legislation.

Graham Footer, chief executive of Mobilise, said: “There is increasing concern among our members about the use of mobility scooters. While the majority of users are responsible there is a minority who drive dangerously and I’ve heard several stories of pedestrians being hit by scooters.

“We want to make sure people using mobility scooters can do so with confidence and in a safe manner and therefore would like to see a nationally recognised course which users must complete before they travel on the highway.”

Mobilise advises it members to have insurance to protect not only themselves but any third party. Mr Footer added: “The charity is currently campaigning for a change in the legislation to make insurance a legal requirement for these types of vehicles.

Superintendent Jim Smerdon said: “While there is no legal requirement for scooter users to have insurance our advice to anyone using a vehicle on a highway would be to have insurance. This way the user and third parties are protected.”

The safety awareness course received positive reviews when it was tried and tested by local people in Great Yarmouth at a launch event in July this year. Participants said the course was realistic to obstacles faced daily including narrow pathways and obstructions due to road works.