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 ten 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.
Josh Howell, (above) 18, from Swanscombe in Kent, was involved in a collision with a car while crossing the road on his mobility scooter on January 14, 2026, close to his home.
“I landed several metres down the road and was unable to move,” said Mr Howell.
“I was in pain all over my body. Only my right arm worked. I genuinely thought I was paralysed.”
Mr Howell had been using a mobility scooter for six months before the incident. He relies on it due to chronic back pain, which had worsened to the point that he could no longer leave the house independently without it.
He sustained extensive bruising across his body and face. Josh also lives with significant mental health challenges and says the experience has had a lasting impact on his confidence.
“My mobility scooter is 100% my lifeline. Without it, I can’t leave the house independently,” he said.
“I’m still sore and bruised, and the pain hasn’t gone away. But the worst part is how it’s affected my confidence. I used to feel confident near roads. Now I feel nervous even standing close to traffic.”
Josh’s experience highlights wider, often hidden impacts of collisions involving mobility scooter users. Even incidents recorded as ‘slight’ by the police can result in people avoiding journeys, limiting their movements or becoming housebound through fear or loss of confidence.
Richard Hannan, Director at Surewise, said: “Josh’s experience reflects the serious risks faced by mobility scooter users, with casualties remaining worryingly high in recent years.
“By speaking out about what happened to him, he is showing real bravery and helping to shine a light on a hidden road safety crisis that can no longer be ignored. These figures should be a wake-up call that mobility scooter users are being overlooked in road safety policy, street design and public awareness.”
The Safer Mobility campaign is calling for mobility scooter users to be explicitly included in the Hierarchy of Road Users within the Highway Code, alongside pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road user groups, to strengthen their recognition and protection on the road.
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.
More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reviewing-the-law-for-powered-mobility-devices
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