Reviewing the law for powered mobility devices

Equal Lives
Feb 6
2 min read

A British high street scene: three older mobility scooter users are driving along the pavement, with two viewed from behind looking at flowers outside a shop, and with another coming towards them with a large commemorative poppy attached to the basket of their scooter.

The government are currently holding an open consultation, to review the rules that apply to powered mobility devices - such as powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters - on roads, on pavements and in public spaces.

This review is being done because technology has come a long way since the legislation around this was first introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, with the legal language for powered mobility devices, ‘invalid carriage’, reflecting the era’s now outdated terminology.

These days, there are many options for those with mobility impairments that go beyond powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, including motorised wheel attachments and hand-cycles that can be attached to manual chairs, as well as e-bikes and e-scooters.

The main areas that the consultation will be exploring are:

Whether the legal terminology should be changed to reflect language evolution.
What the definitions for who can use powered mobility devices should be (a ‘Disabled person’ or ‘someone with reduced mobility’).
Where powered mobility devices can be used.
Whether the current weight limit (200kg when not occupied or carrying baggage) is appropriate.
Whether the current speed limits (4 mph on pavements and 8 mph on roads) are appropriate, and whether these should be different limits for cycle lanes.
Whether the current minimum age of 14 for powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters for use on pavements and roads is appropriate.
Whether these mobility devices should be allowed to carry passengers.
Whether wheelchair attachments, e-cycles, e-scooters, and emerging technologies should be classed as mobility devices for Disabled people.
Whether there is an appropriate balance between the flexibility of current powered mobility aid use and the safety of other members of the public.

The consultation period began on 6 January 2026 and will run until 22 April 2026.

You can respond to this consultation either online, by email to mobilitydevices@dft.gov.uk, or by post to Micromobility Team, Roads Transport Group, Department for Transport, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR.

Written by Equal Lives' Campaign Team