Electric Scooter Buyers Guide:
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When buying a scooter the most important question is . . . what is the stability incline rating of the unit?
In an independent A.A.R.P. survey of scooter users, one third of them report tipping their scooter over.
Today, many scooter manufacturers deliberately do not list the stability rating of their product in the sales literature, much less tell you. Only if you read and understand the owners manual do you find out the unit has substandard stability that puts you at risk.
This violates the U.S. ANSI/RESNA National Standards Duty To Inform requirement. Also, the RESNA test must be used in determining the rating, not one that is made up by the manufacturer.
The deadly evidence of the seriousness of this problem comes from the manufacturers' Medical Device Reports (MDR's) and consumer complaint MDR's reported to the Food and Drug Administration and found on the Maude Search Website.
An MDR is a serious injury report, which includes death, serious injury or consumer complaints.
Manufacturer MDR Report #1- Scenario: "The customer was traveling up an incline when the unit began to drift backwards. He leaned back in an attempt to get his good hand in position to adjust the power knob. By shifting their weight, he caused the unit to tip backward and struck his head."
Some manufacturers today deliberately do not list the incline stability rating in their sales literature. Their owners manual rates the unit at 5 degrees to 8 degrees, and tells you to lean forward to get up an incline.
Patient outcome Death.
MDR Report #2 - Scenario: "User was attempting to climb a steep hill and was unable to get more than half-way up the hill apparently due to a low battery. User apparently took it out of gear into neutral and attempted to back down the hill when it swerved and struck a curb backward.
The scooter tipped over and the user fell on the curb and sidewalk. When scooter is in free wheel the scooter has no brake as stated in the owners' manual. User passed away.
Patient outcome Death.
Two separate problems are exposed in the above report.
First, this unit is rated at only 5 degrees. If there is a problem with a 5 degree scooter, it is much less forgiving.
The 5 degree scooter tends to tip backwards, which can result in massive head injuries. 15 degree scooters are 3 times more stable. If they do tip, they tend to tip to the side. This can result in less serious wrist, arm and shoulder injuries.
Second, if this unit was equipped with modern "Push-Too-Fast" technology, the electronics would have prevented unlimited speed, freewheel or runaway, as the brakes automatically reengage at 3 or 4 mph even if the user has disengaged the brakes.
See Push-Too-Fast section.
MDR Report #3 - Scenario: "Customer was traveling up a ramp 18" X 8' and flipped unit. He struck his head on the concrete sidewalk, which resulted in fluid on the brain. The customer has had several procedures to relieve this condition. The customer has suffered from hydrocephalus as a result of the injury."
This person has permanent brain damage because he went up an 11 degree incline.
Patient outcome Medical intervention.
MDR Report #4 - Scenario: "During demonstration the potential customer stated that while riding the unit up an incline, it stalled. Customer released the disengage, activating the braking system causing him to flip backward. Customer struck head on ground."
Again, no Push-Too-Fast. The demonstrator clearly did not understand limited stability of the scooter, and did not properly warn or supervise the demonstration.
Patient outcome - Unknown injuries.
There are many more backward stability MDR reports that you can read here