Rules to play Push Scooters

1. Scooters have small wheels, around 10cm or so. The braking system is not always reliable because the brake cant grip enough surface area on a small wheel and brakes become less effective with age. This, coupled with the low clearance of scooters, means that losing control is quite likely, particularly when riding over rough surfaces such as cobblestones or large cracks in the pavement.Cheaper scooters may have dangerous design flaws, such as flim .....

Common injuries

2. Falls are the most common cause of injury for Australian children riding scooters. Collisions with cars and pedestrians have also been reported. Common injuries include. Cuts Abrasions Bone fractures, particularly of the wrist Head injuries. .....

Head injuries

3. The brain doesnt fill the skull cavity completely. It is suspended in a chemical soup called cerebrospinal fluid, which nourishes the brain and serves as a shock absorber. If a child falls from a fast-moving scooter and hits a hard surface, such as the road, the brain is thrown against the inside of the skull. This causes bruising and swelling of the delicate tissues. Skull fractures and bleeding from sheared vessels around and inside the brain a .....

Safety equipment

4. The essential safety equipment for riding a scooter includes Bicycle helmet Wrist guards Elbow guards Knee guards. .....

Bicycle helmets

5. Helmets became compulsory safety equipment for bicyclists and scooter riders in 1990. The approved bicycle helmet must be securely fitted and fastened on the riders head. According to Victorias road safety authority VicRoads, helmets have resulted in a 70 per cent decrease in the number of cyclists injured or killed by head injury.Helmets are made of foam similar to the foam used for portable coolers like Eskies that absorbs the impact of a f .....

Helmet safety suggestions

6. Safety suggestions include. Make sure the helmet fits the childs head comfortably before buying it. The helmet should sit just above the eyebrows. A correctly fitted helmet cant be moved around on the head, either forwards and backwards or sideways. The chinstrap must always be fastened firmly and never twisted. Impediments like ponytails and hair clips should not be worn. Always replace helmets after an impact or accident, or if the materials sp .....

Elbow and knee guards

7. Wrist fractures are particularly common, since falling children will instinctively put out their hand or hands to save themselves. Wrist, elbow and knee guards are designed to bolster and protect these vulnerable joints. .....

Road safety

8. Road safety suggestions include Provide a safe learning area while your child masters riding the scooter. Make sure your child wears their safety equipment every time they ride their scooter, even in the backyard. Supervise your child when they are riding their scooter. Dont ever allow a young child to ride their scooter near the road. Dont allow an older child to ride their scooter near the road until they are proficient at riding. Make sure you .....

Things to remember

9. Scooters are popular with young people. Falls and collisions with cars and pedestrians are disturbingly common. Essential safety equipment includes a bicycle helmet and guards for the wrists, elbows and knees. Parents should supervise their children and make them aware of the potential hazards. .....

The road

10. Scooters should NOT be used on the road. Motorists will not be expecting to see them among traffic, and because they are so small especially when ridden by children they are difficult to see. Their small wheels can easily become stuck in drain covers or pot holes bringing the rider to an abrupt halt, and quite likely throwing them to the ground, in front of vehicles.It is also dangerous to cross roads on a scooter. The temptation is to scoot off .....

The pavement

11. Most scooter users seem to ride on the pavement. However, the legal position about riding scooters on pavements seems to be unclear. It has been suggested that they are covered by the same legislation which makes it an offence to ride a bicycle on the footpath. But it seems more likely that police will decide whether or not to take action according to local circumstances.Scooters should not be used on narrow or crowded pavements, or where they wi .....

Crowded areas

12. To avoid collisions with innocent people, scooter riders need to keep away from areas where they are likely to come into conflict with pedestrians. A shopper walking out of a store will not expect to be confronted by someone speeding past on a scooter. A collision, particularly with an elderly person, could have serious consequences. Scooters should certainly not be used inside indoor shopping centres. .....

Protective clothing

13. The USA Consumer Product Safety Commission predict that protective clothing could prevent more than 60% of scooter injuries. If buying scooters for children, parents should consider also purchasing a helmet a cycle helmet is probably best, knee and elbow pads and wrist protectors.Adult scooter users should also consider wearing protective gear, particularly if doing stunts. Scooters can reach high speeds, especially on slopes, and serious injurie .....

Safe riding checklist

14. If your child is under 10 years, he needs to cycle with a grown-up, preferably on bike paths. Children under 12 years are allowed to ride on the footpath. Encourage your child to watch for vehicles coming out of driveways. Teach your child to walk her bike across pedestrian crossings instead of riding across the street. Children must show that they can follow road rules and predict what cars will do before being allowed to cycle alone. This takes .....

Learning to scoot

15. Supervise your child as she learns to use the scooter in a safe place, such as a dual footpath bike path thats away from roads, driveways and steep slopes. Find out if your local skate park offers scooter lessons. Supervise your child when hes riding a scooter on the streets before judging whether he can scoot alone safely. Teach your child road safety rules. .....

Safe falling

16. Teach your child how to fall in a safe way. Its a good idea to give your child some falling practice on a grassy patch before she hits the skate ramp. Here are some tips for falling safely Bend your knees and get down low. Try to fall sideways, not backwards or head first. Try to land on your shoulder and roll. Fall onto your pads. Kick the board out from under your feet. .....

Safety tips

17. Make sure the skateboard is suited to the size of your child and type of skating he does. Check and maintain the skateboard or rollerblades regularly, especially the wheels. Wear bright colours or reflective clothes if skating in the evening. Dont skate at night. Teach your child to skate within her limits. Complicated tricks take practice, so make sure your child builds up to complicated moves. .....

Penalties

18. There is no minimum age limit for the issuing of fines by the police. .....

Signalling

19. You must use a hand signal when you turn right. To do this, extend your right arm out horizontally at a right angle from the right side of the bicycle. Your hand should be open, with your palm facing forward. .....

Being towed on a bicycle

20. On Queensland roads, you must not ride a bicycle that is being towed by another vehicle hold on to a moving vehicle while riding a bicycle. The rider of a bicycle must not lead an animal. .....

Carrying a load on a bicycle

21. You can carry a load on your bicycle. If you choose to carry a load, you must attach the load to your bicycle in a way that does not make the bicycle unstable make sure the load is unlikely to fall from the bicycle. .....

Riding in a bicycle lane on a road

22. You can choose whether or not you wish to use a bicycle lane where one is provided.Never ride in a bicycle lane on the wrong side of the road travelling towards oncoming traffic. .....

Riding on the road shoulder

23. You can ride on the road shoulder, across a continuous white edge line on a bicycle. However, you must give way to vehicles on the road when moving back onto the road across the continuous white edge line. .....

Special purpose lanes

24. A special purpose lane is a marked lane, or part of a marked lane, including bicycle lanes bus lanes tram lanes transit lanes. You can ride your bicycle in these special purpose lanes. Most of the Gold Coast tram system operates on a tramway. A tramway is not a tram lane, or any kind of special purpose lane. Bicycle riders must not travel along the road in a tramway. .....

Riding across a road at a crossing

25. Crossings include pedestrian crossings zebra crossings childrens crossings. signalised pedestrian crossing. You can ride across pedestrian crossings situated at traffic lights if you. proceed slowly and safely. give way to any pedestrian on the crossing. keep to the left of any oncoming bicycle rider. You can ride across a zebra crossing or childrens crossing as long as you come to a complete stop first, and then. proceed slowly and safely. gi .....

Riding on a separated path

26. On a separated path, you can only ride on the side that is for cyclists. The other side is for pedestrians. The separated path sign will show you which side of the path you must ride on. You must always ride to the left of bicycle riders coming toward you. .....

Bicycle crossing lights

27. At bicycle crossing lights, you must stop before entering the crossing if the light is red only cross when the light is green. if the lights change to yellow or red while you are still in the crossing, cross using the safest, most direct route. .....

Bicycle storage areas

28. A bicycle storage area is a section of the road, close to an intersection with traffic lights, where you can wait for the traffic lights to change in front of the stopped motor vehicles. They are usually painted green with white bicycle symbols. Cyclists are allowed to cross the first stop line to enter the bicycle storage area but must stop at the second stop line at a red traffic light. Motor vehicles must stop at the first stop line. .....

Hook turns

29. Hook turn storage box A hook turn storage box is an area marked on the road within an intersection. It shows you where to go if you are performing a hook turn. .....