The number of people killed and injured in mobility scooter collisions on Britain’s roads remains concerningly high, experts say, warning that this vulnerable group continues to be overlooked.
The latest Department for Transport (DfT) road casualty data shows 12 people were killed and 323 people were injured in collisions involving mobility scooters in 2024. The casualties included mobility scooter riders, pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers and passengers involved in the crashes.
This represents one of the highest annual totals on record, with 335 people killed or injured in incidents involving mobility scooters. Of these, 277 were mobility scooter users, highlighting the disproportionate risks faced by this vulnerable group.
Analysis of longer-term trends also shows a significant rise in mobility scooter casualties since the Covid-19 pandemic. The average number of people killed or seriously injured increased from 76 per year before the pandemic to 104 afterwards – a rise of 37 per cent. Overall casualties rose from an average of 269 per year to 334, representing a 24 per cent increase.
This suggests that, as more people rely on mobility scooters for independence, risks on the road have grown but have not been matched by targeted safety measures.
The data has been released by insurance intermediary Surewise as part of its Safer Mobility campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the increased risks facing mobility scooter users. They say the figures expose a growing and often overlooked road safety problem affecting people of all ages who rely on mobility scooters as an essential means of independence, many of whom are disabled or living with long-term health conditions.
Analysis of the DfT data shows the South East had the highest number of total casualties in 2024 (53), followed by the East Midlands (46) and Yorkshire and the Humber (39).
In the 10 years from 2015 to 2024, the data also shows that 86 per cent of mobility scooter casualties took place in urban environments. Mobility scooters were usually (72 per cent) in the main carriageway when involved in a collision, with almost half, or 47 per cent, occurring at or near a junction.
The South East saw more mobility scooter road casualties than any other region during the period, at almost 20 per cent.
The figures, analysed by Agilysis, highlight the need for local authorities and road safety partnerships to build a clearer picture of where and how mobility scooter users are being put at risk, and to strengthen measures to protect them.
Professor Duncan Guest, a cognitive psychology expert at Nottingham Trent University, led a two-year study examining how mobility scooter users perceive road hazards and is a strong advocate for the Safer Mobility Campaign.
He said:
“As more people rely on mobility scooters for independence, it’s vital that safety keeps pace. Even a minor collision can have life-changing consequences. We need better awareness, clearer guidance and safer environments to reduce these risks.”
The government is currently consulting on the law governing powered mobility devices, with mobility scooter users, their families and carers encouraged to take part before the consultation closes on 22 April 2026.
(Picture: Victoria Dawe)
