Are Motor Scooters Safe? Yes and No!

Motor scooters, both electric scooters and gasaround the neighborhood to perform errands. Due to
scooters, are a style of motorcycle that have a steptheir size, fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically larger
through frame and have become a very popularstorage room than a motorcycle, they are ideal in this
method of travel all over the world. They have beensituation. But in the hands of the youth, without any
scooting out of show rooms at record speed. Butprevious driving experience, they can be deadly.
what many people do not realize is that motorThe ATV, go carts, dirt bikes and mini bikes are other
scooters are classified as motor vehicles when itracing vehicles that are often owned and operated by
comes to highway regulations. And although they areyounger drivers. ATVs are usually used off road along
an object of desire for many they can also bewith dirt bikes and mini bikes. Go karts are typically
dangerous for many.driven on paved tracks specifically made for the go
They are typically regulated by state laws as eithercart. The go kart, mini bike, dirt bike or ATVs don't
motorcycles or mopeds and are subject to many ofusually get out on the open road where there are cars
the same regulations as other motor vehicles. With ato contend with. Therefore they also avoid many of
careful and alert driver a scooter can be as safe asthe dangers that scooter drivers must face.
any other vehicle on the road. But accidents frequentlyMotor scooters are the latest craze, especially among
occur when motor scooter drivers think they arethe youth market looking for a quick, cheap form of
exempt from the conventions that apply totransportation. These youths can be too young to own
automobiles.a driver's license, and the result is a dangerous
Motor scooters (sometimes called mopeds or gosituation. They are more popular than ever, but as their
peds) are commonly purchased for use by childrenpopularity grows, people's awareness of driving
and teenagers, most of whom do not even possess aregulations has not kept pace, especially among the
valid license to drive. Licensed drivers have had ayounger generation.
certain amount of training behind the wheel of a car,Kids often think of motor scooters as toys, not as
unlike many motor scooter drivers under the age of 16.adult vehicles. But a scooter is not a toy. It's a
Without proper training children and young teenagerspotentially dangerous motor vehicle subject to certain
can easily find themselves in positions thatlaws and regulations. Also, youth often think of
experienced drivers normally would not.themselves as being immune to automobile driving
Darting in and out of traffic with little driving experience,regulations and immune to accidents as well. "It won't
on a motor scooter that is so small it cannot be seenhappen to me" is a very common attitude among the
by other drivers, poses a hazard to both the scooteryouth. But it's precisely this attitude that can get them
driver and other motorists traveling the highway. To beinto trouble.
safe a motor scooter driver must think of himself asPeople need to be aware of the potential motor
being invisible to the other drivers making their wayscooter dangers and take appropriate action. Scooter
down the busy streets. A scooter driver cannotriders should pay special attention while driving, making
assume that other drivers will see them.sure not to drive erratically, but to be predictable and
A safe approach for a scooter driver would be tocourteous to other drivers on the road.
assume that they are completely invisible to otherBoth kids and adults need training and experience
drivers and then act accordingly. A motor scooter riderbefore attempting to maneuver their scooters out in
must be ready to maneuver out of harm's if anothertraffic. If parents will take a little time to train their
driver makes a sudden unexpected movement. Beingchildren, making sure they are aware of the rules of
safe means staying alert at all times. Being safe alsothe road before they are allowed to travel on them, it
means following the rules of the road and not makingcould make driving a pleasure instead of a danger.
unnecessary or risky moves in traffic that wouldWith a little training and some wise words of advice
cause their moped scooter to dart out in front ofwe can all make a difference in the lives of the youth.
another moving vehicle. Automobile drivers must haveGive them some training and experience and their
time to react to a scooter driver's movements.motor scooters may be an object of fun instead of
There are many reasons to own a motorized scooter.injury.
They are often used for traveling short distances