Recommendations
- Children should not use a scooter if they do not have enough balance or coordination.
- Parent should show the safety features of the scooter to a child before a child rides a scooter. This includes safety gear and brakes. The parents should then watch the child with the scooter in a safe, open area.
- Before riding – check that the steering column and handlebars are locked into place. Also check that all nuts and bolts are tight before using the scooter.
- Children should always wear protective gear when operating a scooter:
- helmet
- wrist guards
- knee and elbow pads
- Children should wear long pants and long sleeve shirt when operating a scooter.
- Children should wear proper shoe wear that won’t fall off and will protect the top and bottom of their feet. Sneakers are very protective. Flip-flops are not.
- Avoid dangerous ground or bad weather:
- No riding on steep hills
- No riding over obstacles
- No riding on slippery, sandy, or icy surfaces
- No riding on streets or any place where there are cars, buses, or trains.
- Do not use a scooter at dawn, dusk or at night.
- Do not do any stunts or jumps.
Q: How can I make scooter riding safer for my child?
- In children a scooter is safer if the rider has correct training on the scooter
- With supervision – the child should learn to control his speed and use the brakes
- Never use a scooter without safety equipment
- Before riding the scooter, make sure it is good shape
- Moving parts are moving freely
- The brakes work
- Children should not ride a scooter near any traffic such as cars, buses, or trains
- Scooters are safest in wide open areas that are not crowded
- Never ride a scooter while listening to music or talking on a headset. You might not be able to hear a car’s honking horn or a siren.
- Never ride a scooter on uneven surfaces that are wet, sandy, bumpy or littered with debris
- Never ride a scooter with low visibility – in the rain, at dusk, dawn or after dark