Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Scooter safety: What you need to know
When gas prices rise and the weather warms, a lot of people think about saving money by commuting by scooter.
A scooter is a two-wheeler with an engine of 50 cc or less that can’t go faster than 50 km/h. If the engine is bigger or the bike faster, it’s a motorcycle and the driver needs to be licensed and the scooter must be registered and insured as such as well.
Training important
Even though scooter riders don’t require a motorcycle (class 6) licence, it’s a great idea for them to take a motorcycle course to learn the skills they’ll require to safely navigate among much larger vehicles.
Like motorcycles, scooters should be ridden in the tire
track furthest from the curb and not against the curb, like a bicycle.
“Scooter operators have to be very vigilant and
should always signal their intentions, even when going just from one tire
track to another,” says Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education for
Manitoba Public Insurance. “Scooters are small, so you should try to
avoid larger vehicles’ blind spots. And of course, car and truck drivers
should always check twice around them for scooters, motorcycles and bicycles.”
And larger traffic isn’t the only hazard for scooters – operators should always scan ahead for loose gravel, ice patches, potholes and other obstacles that could spell trouble.
Helmets a must
Approved helmets are a must, but Lou says scooter operators should also wear protective clothing for arms, legs, hands and eyes in case of a spill onto the road surface.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV, or visit the following sections on this website:
- Scooters in this section
- Scooters in The 60-Second Driver
- You can access a 60-Second video on Scooters directly
