A MOBILITY scooter has given a new lease of life to Brisbane retiree Jim Anderson. The Kangaroo Point resident was impressed with the scooter as a form of travel. “It is a safe way to travel,” Mr Anderson said. “It is of great help to anyone who has a problem.” The son of a horse trainer joined the Courier-Mail as a cadet journalist and helped produce the first horse racing form guides in the newspaper.
Mr Anderson, who is president of The Bernborough Club of Queensland, has seen 18 Melbourne Cups and visited overseas race meetings near Paris, France, and at Ascot, England. “One of the worst things is to lose the use of a car.
It is so important to be able to get about,” Mr Anderson said. “Motorists are very considerate. Sharing the road can be confronting but drivers are considerate of scooter users through ageing, injured or medical cases.” Mr Anderson praised the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council for redesigning road corners and guttering. “It is good they are supporting this new revolution,” the 80-year-old said.
He purchased his Shoprider mobility scooter, personalised with an Australian fl ag, from Easycare Group last year and state manager Christian Sanby said the motorised wheelchairs provided freedom for the user. “A new scooter or power wheel chair will give customers freedom and the opportunity to lead a more interesting and independent lifestyle,” he said.
“They can drive safely, take care and get out and about.” Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs all fall under the category of motorised wheelchairs with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Users do not need a driver’s licence but they must have a doctor’s certificate verifying that owing to severe mobility impairment, there is a need for assisted travel. All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs must be registered if using public footpaths and roads.
There are no fees for registration or compulsory third party insurance (CTP). CTP is free to registered motorised wheelchair users and is provided by the Nominal Defendant, a statutory body tasked with compensating people who are injured as a result of negligent driving of unidentifi ed and or uninsured (no CTP) motor vehicles. All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are restricted by law to a maximum speed of 10km/h and a maximum tare weight of 110kgs. The driver must be capable of operating the machine safely and must observe all Queensland road rules as well as those relating to pedestrians. For mobility scooter requirements, contact Easycare Group also known as liftbedchair.com.au.
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