Nationals senator John Williams is calling for speed restrictions for elderly and disabled people who drive mobility scooters on footpaths.
In an ambitious new push, Senator Williams called on his colleagues at a Nationals federal conference in Canberra to back a proposal for a 6km/h footpath speed cap.
He is also campaigning for a weight limit of 150kgs to be enforced, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Nationals senator John Williams is calling for speed restrictions for elderly and disabled people who drive mobility scooters on footpaths
Senator Williams called on his colleagues at a Nationals federal conference in Canberra to back a proposal for a 6km/h footpath speed cap
The call follows his wife, Nancy, being injured in a run-in with a speeding gopher last year, from which she required a hip operation.
With the current Australian speed limit 10km/h for scooters on footpaths, Senator Williams says many accidents could be avoided if it were lowered.
He questioned whether an elderly person was any safer behind the wheel of a scooter than a car.
‘You’re a danger to the public if you drive a car down a road but you’re not a danger if you drive a scooter down a footpath?,’ he asked.
He is also campaigning for a maximum vehicle weight limit of 150kgs to be enforced (stock photo used above)
‘They are a tremendous assistance for those who are frail or immobile, but we have got to have safe footpaths as well.’
His move has been met with a frosty reception from managing director of Scooters Australia, Peter Fraser.
‘Just because Senator Williams’ wife was injured in a mobility scooter accident is no reason to change the law to suit one politician,’ he argued.
The call follows his wife, Nancy, being injured in a run-in with a speeding gopher last year, from which she required a hip operation
The campaign also involves a push for registration schemes and on-the-spot fines for speed infringements.
Mobility scooter user, Barbara Lund, an 89-year old resident of an aged-care facility in Canberra’s Red Hill, said she couldn’t see the danger of the vehicles, provided the rules were adhered to.
Ms Lund said driving her scooter gave her rare access to independence— something she’d missed dearly since loosing her car licence.
His move has been met with a frosty reception from managing director of Scooters Australia, Peter Fraser, who says the laws shouldn’t be changed to suit one politician