Dawn West, who had stage 4 breast cancer, described her mobility scooter as her “lifeline,” relying on it to attend medical appointments, shop and meet friends.

However, each time she left her home, she faced cars parked on pavements, overgrown foliage and other hazards that blocked her path. These obstacles often forced her to reverse and find alternative routes, adding significant time and stress to her journeys.

Dawn, 51, from Burbage, Leicestershire, said: “I’m speaking out to raise awareness of the challenges that mobility scooter users like myself face every day. People need to understand that parking on pavements, blocking dropped kerbs or allowing hedges to overgrow may seem trivial to them, but it makes life so much harder for us.”

Dawn joined forces with Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership and leading mobility scooter insurer, Surewise, as part of the Safer Mobility campaign.

The married mother-of-two continued: “There’s a stigma surrounding mobility scooter use. But the reality is, by law you must have an injury, a physical disability or a medical condition to use one. Drivers need to recognise how vulnerable we are.”

Dawn expressed concern over neglected pavements, noting that uneven surfaces, holes and tree roots render them unsafe for mobility scooters, often forcing users into the road.

She added: “Every road crossing needs drop kerbs on both sides. Often, only one side has a drop kerb, which means I have to venture into the road to find a safe place to get back on the pavement. Even though my scooter is road-legal, I don’t feel safe using it on the roads.”

While her class three mobility scooter is legally permitted on the roads, she was acutely aware of the risks. Data released by Surewise earlier, showed that mobility scooter casualties in the UK have risen by an average of 20 per cent each year over the past decade, making road use a hazardous option.

Worryingly, their research also found that mobility scooter riders are two and a half times more likely to be killed in a road collision than other road users.

“If mobility scooter users were granted the same protection as cyclists and horse riders in the Highway Code – ‘pass wide and slow’ – we might feel safer using the roads,”

“Cars passing too closely are dangerous; wing mirrors are at head height, and the turbulence from larger vehicles is terrifying. We need the same recognition and protection.”

Dawn’s experience is not unique – many have reported similar concerns about blocked pavements, dangerous road conditions and a lack of safe crossings. Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership share the ambitions of the Safer Mobility campaign and continue to promote Dawn’s story to all road users.