A mobility scooter  article that featured recently in Brisbanes Courier Mail with one of our happy customers Jim Anderson.

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Using a mobility scooter or power chair in Queensland

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs all fall under the category of ‘Motorised wheelchairs’ with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads – Registering Motorised Wheelchairs

Some commonly asked questions:

To avoid repetition, the term ‘scooter’ will also refer to ‘power chair’ in this article.

Do I have to have a driver’s licence to drive a scooter in Queensland?

No, you are not required to have a licence but you must have a doctor’s certificate verifying that owing to severe mobility impairment there is a need for assisted travel.

Do I have to register my scooter?

Yes, 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 unidentified and/or uninsured (no CTP) motor vehicles.

What information do I have to provide to have the scooter registered?

The following information is required:

• a doctor’s certificate/letter/statement stating that due to severe movement impairment you need the use of a motorised wheelchair for assisted travel. A doctor’s certificate must be provided each time a different mobility scooter/wheelchair is registered.
•  a Vehicle Registration Application form (F3518)
•  a Vehicle Details form (F3529)
• a Motorised Wheelchair Statement form (F4414)
• evidence of the vehicle’s origin – former registration papers or purchase receipt
• evidence of the vehicle’s garaging address – Queensland driver licence, rates notice, electricity or phone bill
• evidence of personal identification – Queensland driver licence. Other  means of ID can be found at  Evidence of Identity Information Sheet (F4362)

How fast can I travel on a public footpath or road?

All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are restricted by law to a maximum speed of 10km/h and a maximum tare weight of 110kgs.

Can anyone else drive my scooter on a public footpath or road?

A mobility scooter or powered chair can only be used by the registered operator.

What Queensland Road rules must be observed?

The driver must be capable of operating the machine safely and must observe all Queensland Road Rules as well as those relating to pedestrians. The definition of ‘pedestrian’ in the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995  (p. 528) includes a motorised wheelchair.

Queensland Road Rules include:

• giving way to other road users on a path or nature strip
• exercising due care and attention for the safety of others at all times
• driving on the footpath or nature strip at all times and only using the road when the footpath or nature strip is not suitable
• if driving on the road you must  drive as close to the side of the road as possible and face oncoming traffic (except for a one-way street)
• using the most direct route available when crossing a road
• travelling at no faster than 10km/h
• driving on the road alongside no more than one other pedestrian or vehicle travelling in the same direction, unless it is necessary to overtake other pedestrians comply with other road rules as they apply to pedestrians

What are the registration requirements for an organisation?

Organisations such as nursing homes, shopping centres, education institutions and hire companies that provide mobility scooters or powered chairs for residents, shoppers, students or hirers must also apply for registration. At the time of registration they must provide a statement on the Motorised Wheelchair Statement form certifying that the mobility scooter or powered chair will be used solely by individuals who possess a doctor’s certificate confirming that they require the vehicle for assisted travel owing to impaired mobility.

Other requirements include:

• a Vehicle Registration Application form (F3518)
• a Vehicle Details form (F3529)
• evidence of the vehicle’s origin – former registration papers or purchase receipt
• evidence of the vehicle’s garaging address – Queensland driver licence, rates  notice, electricity or phone bill
• organisation identification such as Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate or Certificate of Company Registration. As a registered business is not a legal entity identification for the legal identity behind the business must also be provided. Organisation representatives must also produce personal identification.

Your new scooter or power chair will give you freedom and the opportunity to lead a more interesting and independent lifestyle.  Drive safely, take care and get out and about and….don’t forget to smell the roses!!

Using a mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair in NSW

Scooters, gophers and powered wheelchairs all come under the umbrella term ‘motorised  wheelchairs’. A person using any of the above machines is defined as a ‘pedestrian’ under the NSW Road Rules.

Some commonly asked questions to help you with your decision to purchase a mobility scooter or other motorised mobility aid.

Do I have to register my mobility scooter or power chair?

Under NSW law you are not required to register your scooter or power chair. You and your motorised wheelchair must comply with the NSW Road Rules.

What NSW Road Rules does a person using a scooter or other mobility equipment need to observe?

1. You cannot travel faster than 10 kilometres per hour on level ground
2. The mobility unit must not exceed 110 kilograms unladen.
3. You must not travel on the road unless it is impracticable to travel on the footpath or nature strip next to the road.
4. You must keep as far to the side of the road as possible and face oncoming traffic if no footpath is available.
5. You must not use the motorised wheelchair with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 or more.

Do I need a special licence to drive a scooter or power chair?

There is no formal test or requirement for a special licence. However you must be unable to walk or have difficulty in walking to be able to lawfully drive a motorised wheelchair on a footpath, public road or road related area.

Do I need to pay third party insurance?

No, you are not required to pay third party insurance.

What skills do I need to drive safely in a mobility scooter or power chair?

There are some basic skills required to operate the mobility equipment safely. You must be able to:

• Operate the controls and manoeuvre the machine
• Keep your balance and adjust your body position when you travel across uneven ground
• Spot obstacles and avoid collisions
• Judge speeds and distances
• Make good judgements to protect your safety and others.

How can I increase my safety driving a scooter or power chair?

There are a few things that you can easily do to improve your safety and the safety of others.  These include:

• Attach an orange safety flag to your chair high enough so that other vehicles and pedestrians can see it
• If possible attach rear view mirrors to your scooter
• Plan your travel in advance so that you use public footpaths as much as possible
• Know where the kerb ramps and drive ways are for safe crossing
• Avoid highways and major roads, and if you need to use a road try to use quiet streets
• If you have to travel at night, use lights and reflectors to increase your visibility

Your new mobility scooter or power chair will provide you with greater freedom and a much improved lifestyle. Get out and about, chat to others and most importantly of all….smell the roses!

While advice commonly given when buying a new mattress suggests that ‘you try as many as possible’ we have done the ‘try before you buy’ for you.  Our range of mattresses represents the best selection available on the market suitable for adjustable beds. Each mattress provides a high level of comfort and support, a good life span as well as being covered in natural fibre, allowing your skin to breathe.

Remember you can combine the adjustable bed base with any of the mattresses.

So………which adjustable bed mattress is the best for you?

What mattress is commonly supplied with Adjustable Beds?

The Pillow-Top Innerspring Adjustable Mattress is our best budget buy mattress. It represents excellent value for money and provides a good level of comfort and support. The open ended innerspring coils are joined together through flexalators top and bottom which are able to move separately in response to weight. This inbuilt flexibility gives you comfort with the body of the coil providing the support. The flexible spring system allows the mattress to bend easily as the adjustable bed base moves.

The Pillow Top Innerspring is available in a soft, medium or firm pillow top.

What is the ultimate adjustable bed mattress?

The Deluxe Zoned Pocket Spring Mattress has become the preferred choice of our customers as of the last 12 months of being released.

Picture a honeycomb structure with hundreds of self-contained zoned coils. The coil structure allows each spring to react independently, adjusting to your bodies’ weight independently to relieve pressure evenly. The different weight rated coils are zoned into sections giving addition support through the hip area while softer at head and feet zones. Real world testing has shown the pocket spring mattresses to be the most comfortable type of mattress for this reason.

“Even weight distribution promotes a supreme level of comfort and a good sleep.”

The memory foam Pillowtop component of the mattress also assists with support of your body weight and adds to the overall sense of comfort.

The edges of a “zoned pocket spring” contain a side support system to retain shape while entering and exiting the bed.  A common issue with cheaper mattresses and especially innerspring are sagging sides. If the edges of your mattress collapse and sag then it is considerably harder to get in or out of your adjustable bed.

What if I am sensitive to dust mites or mould?

All of our adjustable mattresses include Enviro Fresh Protection Standard

• We use a multi-function anti-microbial product which simultaneously works to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, moulds and house dust mites.
• The hygiene and safety of a wide range of everyday items can be protected by the application of Enviro-fresh.
• Enviro-freshattacks mite populations in two ways: firstly, by acting as a contact repellent forcing mites to move away from treated areas, and secondly, by inhibiting the growth of natural food sources such as yeast, moulds and bacteria.
• Enviro-freshhelps prevent the spread of disease and infection caused by contact with fabrics which have been contaminated by sneezing or coughing.
• Enviro-fresh also maintains odour-free surfaces by killing the moulds which produce the smells.

To further protect against dust mites and other nasties. A mattress made of Latex could be the answer

Our Pure Latex Gold Mattress made from 100% New Zealand latex (rubber) is known to be the highest quality latex on the market. A latex mattress should last from 20 to 25 years. They are a great option for allergy sufferers as the natural properties of latex inhibit mould and dust mites.The Latex Gold mattress has a firm inner core of latex with a soft top layer of quilting.  This combination provides a luxurious, spongy feeling, without the sense of sinking in to the mattress. The inbuilt flutes in the latex allow air to circulate assisting in heat and moisture dispersal. As Latex Gold is by nature an insulator, it will warm to your individual body temperature. Environmentally friendly and naturally healthier a Latex Gold mattress is the perfect mattress for some people! 

What is the best Adjustable mattress for a person who is bed bound?

The Pressure Care Memory Foam Mattress is ideal for people who are in bed for extended periods of time. ‘Memory foam’ also known as ‘viscoelastic’ is made from polyurethane. It has a different cell structure from other foams making it less ‘springy’. As a result the foam is slower to recover – retaining the ‘memory’ of the weight or shape for a time after you have moved.

Sensitive to weight and pressure a memory foam mattress moulds to the body shape supporting the weight evenly rather than at the points of weight concentration at the head, shoulders and hips as in regular mattresses. The even distribution of support provided by the latex promotes better circulation and helps prevent pressure ulcers.

Pressure care range also offers you the choice of a quilted or waterproof cover.

Both normal and bariatric mattresses are available in all sizes.

Don’t compromise your comfort by putting a cheaper, less comfortable, less supportive mattress on the high quality, durable steel frame and wooden base of an Advanced adjustable bed!