Scooters have stood the test of time, with each generation enjoying scooters in one form or another. A scooter can be great fun…a speedy way to get around. Today, there are even scooters for toddlers!
Kids need to practice scooter safety; accidents are on the rise. Over one third of all scooter accidents occur in children under eight years of age.
With the promise of fun comes the reminder that scooter safety is a very important consideration.
Scooter safety for young children is best summed up as follows:
- A helmet, knee pads and elbow pads must be worn whenever a child rides a scooter. No matter if it is summer and hot or they are just going a short distance
- Children under eight must be supervised when riding a scooter.
- Scooters need to be ridden on smooth, paved surfaces schoolyards, parks and sidewalks
- Riders must remember that the street is not a safe place to ride.
- If they ride on sidewalks, people walking on the sidewalk have the right of way.
To insure scooter safety, children need to learn how to scoot from an adult, just as they do for bike riding and skateboarding.