TOP SCOOTER SAFETY TIPS:
Scooters have become more and more popular
the past few years, they allowed us to zip
around towns and cities without even so
much as a puff of harmful, polluting emissions,
and get a little bit of exercise while we
do it! And what else has been able to pry
young people away from TV sets and video
games so effectively, and encourage them
to get outside and be physically active?
Unfortunately, there is a downside. We have
seen an alarmingly number of scooter-related
injuries popping up in emergency rooms around
the world. The vast majority of these scooter
accidents involve those under the age of
15. And worst of all, with but a little
attention paid to basic scooter safety,
the vast majority of those mishaps could
and would have been prevented.
The fact is, scooters are like any other
piece of sporting equipment; they can be
used and used safely, but you need to take
proper precautions. Here are a few easily
digestible guidelines for scooter safety
that everyone who uses scooters should observe:
1. Always wear safety gear: Helmet, Elbow
Pads and Knee Pads. This is a small investment,
but necessary- only about $30- can instantly
eliminate almost two-thirds of possible
scooter accidents. In many states, provinces
and regions throughout the world, these
are required by law!
2. Always ride your scooter during the
daytime. When it is dark out, there are
just too many things that can easily upset
your balance and cause you to fall. Therefore,
no one should ride scooters at night.
3. Scooters are not toys! Children who
are under eight should always be supervised
when using scooters. Almost a third of all
scooter-related injuries and accidents involve
children under the age of eight. As everyone
knows, scooters are capable of traveling
very quickly, and children that age do not
always have the judgment or coordination
to handle these high speeds.
4. Always ride your scooter Off-Road &
Stay away from all cars and any other vehicles
-Cars and scooters don't mix, especially
for younger riders. Smooth, paved surfaces
are best - avoid bumpy, uneven, wet or rocky
ones. Schoolyards, parks, paved trails are
examples of safe places to "scoot"!
Stay away from Sand, Gravel, Water and Dirt
– Try to keep your scooter on smooth
surfaces.
5. Always observe the basic rules of the
road anywhere you use scooters. As scooters
can travel as fast as many other types of
vehicles, motorized and non-motorized, they
too must observe the rules of the road.
These include:
• Stop at every stop sign. Look left,
right, and left again before proceeding.
• Stop at the end of the driveway.
Look left, right, and left before entering
the street.
• Use proper hand signals.
• Obey traffic signs and signals
MECHANICAL TIPS:
Check all joints, hinges and quick releases
to ensure the scooter is properly assembled.
Stop using the product immediately if any
joint, hinge, or quick release becomes loose.
Correct the looseness prior to resuming
the ride. Maintain proper air pressure in
the tires. Low air pressure induces extra
rolling friction, reduces ground clearance,
and wears the tires quicker. If the brake
lever touches the handlebar grip, stop use
of the product until the lever is adjusted.
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