MOBILITY scooters should not be allowed on the road because they are too slow and offer no protection in a collision, according to Worcester News readers.

We reported earlier this week on the woes of Paul Brown, who said he gets “abused and threatened” by drivers every time he takes to the road on his scooter.

“I’m sick and tired and it’s down to poor education – some people assume you’re not allowed onto the road and they think it’s alright to shout,” the 66-year-old said.

Mr Brown, from Evesham, has diabetes and due to diabetic neuropathy can no longer feel his feet and has lost some toes – meaning he can only walk short distances with the help of a mobility frame.

Mr Brown’s class of scooter can reach speeds of 8mph, as opposed to standard scooters, which only reach 4mph and so must remain on the pavement.

By law, he can drive it on main roads but not bypasses or motorways, though he can cross a bypass junction if it means gaining access from one main road to the next.

Writing on our Facebook page, Nathan Preedy said: “It's a question of safety. If he gets hit hard by a car in one of those – even if it's at low speed – he'll be knocked off and probably badly injured or killed.

“If I was reliant on a mobility scooter to get around I'd be terrified to drive it on the road. “Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done.”

Philip Newby said for scooter users’ own sake they shouldn’t drive on the roads, because they are “too slow and easy to miss”.

He said he saw a “terrible accident” in Redditch a few years ago involving a mobility scooter – labelling them “simply not appropriate for the roads”.

Others felt part of the issue is that scooter operators do not need to pass any kind of road test and so do not necessarily have enough knowledge of the rules that other motorists follow.

Cleall Nigel said: “I have no problem with them being on the road, but they need to follow the Highway Code – just as car drivers.

“Going up one-way streets the wrong way, not stopping at lights, just the same as cyclists.”

Mike Lane said a man in Malvern rides a scooter and is an “absolute menace”.

“He drives in the middle of the road and at night with a headlamp, I will be amazed if he does/has not cause an accident,” he said.