Organisers of a ScootSafe day in a coastal town centre admitted they've been "compelled" to do something amid fears that a "serious accident" is waiting to happen.

Concerns have been raised over the way people are driving mobility vehicles in Lowestoft, and the speed they are travelling in the town centre - with the situation having now become "so bad" that a mobility scooter safety event is set to be held.

Next Friday, June 7 a "ScootSafe Day" will take place in Lowestoft town centre from 9.30am to 4pm as it raises awareness of using mobility scooters safely.

Describing the situation as "an accident waiting to happen," Margaret Oldham, chair of Lowestoft Shopmobility, said: "We are very concerned as to how people drive their mobility scooters in the town centre and know that before long there will be a serious accident if people do not obey the rules."

With next Friday also being National Shopmobility Awareness Day, Mrs Oldham said: "We will be giving out flyers which tell people the rules and also telling them about our charity."

Similar mobility scooter safety events in Lowestoft have been held in the town ever since the inaugural event in 2011.

Mrs Oldham, who is also chair of Waveney Disability Forum and chair of Disability Advice North East Suffolk, added: "We have held four of these days over the years, but the last one in March 2023 was very cold with rain and snow falling, so we had to abandon it at lunchtime.

"The situation around the town has now got so bad that we felt compelled to do something again."

The event is being supported by Peter Aldous, Waveney Disability Forum, East Suffolk Communities Team, Disability Advice North East Suffolk, the police, Lowestoft Town Council, Lowestoft Vision and Freedom Mobility.

With specific problems centring around the speed that the scooter users are travelling, Mrs Oldham said: "Scooters which go at 8mph to go on the road should limit their speed in the pedestrian areas.

"They should be going at 4mph.

"If someone hits a child or toddler going at 8mph, they would be seriously hurt - or even killed."

Other concerns

As well as issues with the speed at which scooter users are going around the town, Mrs Oldham said: "Many people do not have insurance, when they should have in case of accidents.

"People should not drive a scooter under the influence of alcohol, drugs and even some medications.

"They should not carry other adults, children or pets - yet they can be seen doing this on a weekly basis.

"They should not drive in cycle lanes, but again each time we go along the seafront it is evident that people do not know the rules."