Safety tips in daily life: Can electric mobility scooters truly be used safely for transportation?

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　““My father is in his 60s, yet he drives that elderly-friendly vehicle on the roads every day; it scares me just to watch!” Huang Yanming is not the only citizen who shares such concerns. Today, the elderly have a variety of ways to travel, including transportation methods with extremely low safety levels such as ride-on vehicles and tricycles. Furthermore, the weak traffic awareness and poor physical condition of some elderly people make this group particularly prone to travel accidents. Not only children but also many drivers are concerned about whether it is feasible for the elderly to use mobility scooters for transportation. How can we ensure their safety while commuting? The elderly prefer mobility scooters for travel, which causes worry among their children. Citizen Huang Yanming said that his 66-year-old father, Huang Chenggang, has completely given up using public transportation such as buses and subways since he bought a mobility scooter last year; he relies on it for everything from shopping for groceries to visiting relatives. 　　Huang Chenggang purchased a four-wheeled vehicle for transportation; it looks somewhat similar to the brand’s smaller cars on the outside, but its internal structure is completely different. Apart from a seat for one person at the driver’s position, there is only one seat at the back, and it has no gears. “I rode in my dad’s car once, and it was terrifying – the metal sheet covering it was extremely thin, and the view from the driver’s seat was poor. ”Huang Yanming said that during that trip, his father also drove the vehicle into the roads surrounding the Zhonglu Building. Due to its small size, the microcar cuts in and out of the flow of motor vehicles, and the constant honking of horns is truly distressing. Upon returning, he advised his father not to drive that car any longer, but the old man believed that a vehicle for personal use was easy to drive and park; as long as one didn’t drive too fast, nothing bad would happen. On the other hand, using public transportation required walking, and the vehicles were crowded, increasing the risk of accidents. 　　The same thing happened at the home of citizen Peng Xiaoyu; on weekdays, she left her daughter who was in elementary school at her parents’ house so that they could help take care of her and drive her to and from school. In September this year, not long after school started, Peng Xiaoyu noticed that her father had bought an electric tricycle, with a note attached stating \"For picking up family members only; not for commercial use.\" It turns out that the father bought this car specifically to make it easier to take the grandson around, and he usually had his granddaughter sit in the back seat. “To get to my daughter’s school, one has to cross a large road, and my father would ride an electric tricycle across it at high speed!” Peng Xiaoyu said. Her father also had heart problems; riding an electric vehicle not only meant worrying about her daughter’s safety but also constantly fearing that the noise from cars on the road might disturb him. 　　There is a gap in the regulation of mobility vehicles, making safety difficult to ensure. According to the \"Survey Report on Elderly People’s Travel Habits\" released by Didi, adults aged 50 to 70 generally report difficulties in traveling. Their limited range of transportation options, frequent transfers, and long distances to cover make it hard on their health; as a result, 20.59% of them rely on bicycles or motor vehicles for travel. Since most elderly people do not have driver’s licenses, for convenience, many of them turn to mobility scooters and tricycles. But is this really the best mode of transportation for the elderly? “These days, not only do many elderly people drive mobility scooters and tricycles, but many also use them as a means of transportation. ”Tong Qihang, the deputy captain of the Safety Supervision Squad of the Lianhu Traffic Police Unit, said that many elderly people with mobility issues are reluctant to take taxis when going to distant places, and since they cannot use buses either, they turn to illegally operating tricycles. It is stated that, strictly speaking, elderly mobility vehicles are not allowed on the roads and cannot carry passengers. This is because the speed of many elderly three-wheeled vehicles has long since reached between 20 and 50 kilometers per hour, as specified in the Technical Requirements for the Safe Operation of Motor Vehicles. Although many elderly people still consider their three-wheeled vehicles to be non-motorized or electric vehicles, in fact, once they meet these criteria, they are classified as motor vehicles. If classified as motor vehicles, most elderly people who use mobility scooters do not possess a driver’s license for such vehicles, nor do the scooters have any registration documents; therefore, they are not allowed to drive on roads at all. 　　“Elderly mobility vehicles are essentially evolved from assistive devices for people with disabilities. ”Tong Qihang said that such vehicles are actually medical devices, with a maximum speed limit of 10 kilometers per hour; they require very high standards regarding road safety. Moving back and forth in the motor vehicle lanes is extremely dangerous. 　　Considering their ease of driving and simplicity of operation, as well as the fact that no registration, licensing, or driving tests are required, although the elderly highly favor such vehicles, in reality they cannot even be insured, leaving them without any safety protection. Tong Qihang said that it is precisely because of this uniqueness that supervision is difficult to implement. Subsequently, a reporter confirmed from an electric vehicle business on Umbrella Tower Road that most of the elderly mobility vehicles available on the market are not listed in the \"Announcement on Vehicle Manufacturers and Their Products,\" and therefore do not have production permits issued by the relevant authorities. Elderly people choose them mainly for convenience, as there is no need to register them. 　　Give priority to public transportation and establish relevant guidelines. What mode of transportation is safer for the elderly? Yang Tao, general manager of Shaanxi Jinyihe Nursing Home, says that as people age, their various physiological functions decline, so it’s best to opt for public transportation such as buses and subways when traveling; this way, in case of any problems, they can get help from other passengers on board. 　　“It is not advisable for the elderly to drive by themselves, as they have slower reactions and find it difficult to handle unexpected situations on the road. ”Yang Tao said that, in addition, most manufacturers of mobility vehicles and tricycles are not legitimate; if these vehicles do not meet safety standards, it means there is one less layer of safety protection for the elderly. If the elderly person insists on riding, Yang Lian suggests that it would be best to have a family member accompany them, or for a family member to drive and take them along. 　　To ensure safety, Tong Qihang reminds the elderly who use personal mobility devices to drive in accordance with laws and regulations, to keep their speed below 10 kilometers per hour; they should avoid entering motor vehicle lanes and streets with heavy traffic. At the same time, take preventive measures in advance to avoid competing for space with motor vehicles, other non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians. 　　“What is more important than banning personal transport vehicles is improving the relevant laws and regulations. ”Mr. Wang from Qinchunyuan Nursing Home in Chang’an District suggested that vehicles such as mobility scooters and electric assist bikes should be classified as vehicles requiring special management, that production standards for such vehicles should be unified as soon as possible, and that standardization could be used to enhance their safety. By taking into account the problems identified in daily work, traffic police departments can also collaborate with reputable manufacturers to enhance the traffic safety awareness of the elderly, as much as possible, through training on the proper operation of these mobility devices, while ensuring the safety of those vehicles.