“The police said when they looked under the car, they didn’t expect me to be alive,” he said.
“I don’t know what happened, I was dumbfounded – I couldn’t say anything. I was jammed under there. I could feel the scooter’s rear-vision mirror hitting me in the chest.
“There was nothing left of my gopher – I came out of it with a scratch on my elbow.”
Mr Cushion spent a few nights in Horsham hospital as a precaution, and said he encouraged other mobility scooter users to adhere to the road rules.
“There are a lot of gophers out there – there’s one bloke that rides on the main road all the time, I’ve told him and told him not to,” he said.
“You’ve got to go by the rules and wear all your safety gear.”
Horsham Police and Community Consultative Committee representatives – including Acting Inspector Eddie Malpas and Wimmera Mobility Group members – have collaborated to increase road safety.
Acting Inspector Malpas said there was legislation that related to mobility scooters – the Road Safety Act and the Victorian Road Rules 2017.
“People who use mobility scooters are considered to be pedestrians, so they need to be aware of the rules that apply to them,” he said.
“For example, if you need to travel on the road, you must travel facing oncoming traffic, you must cross the road at the shortest possible route, you must give way to cars entering or exiting a roundabout, and give way to bicycle riders when crossing a bike path.”
Acting Inspector Malpas said mobility scooters also could not obstruct the path of a driver or other pedestrians, and users could not leave the mobility scooter parked somewhere that blocks the path of other pedestrians.
“One of the key safety tips is to travel at walking pace when around other pedestrians and slow down to match their speed,” he said.
“Be particularly careful in shopping centres and keep closer to the curb as opposed to travelling close to shop doorways – this will reduce the risk of running into people as they exit shop fronts.”
Acting Inspector Malpas said although mobility scooters did not need to be registered, nor users licenced, there were requirements and restrictions.
“Mobility scooters can only be used if the person has an injury, disability, or other medical condition that affects their ability to walk,” he said.
“They must not travel faster than 10 kilometres an hour and must not weigh more than 110 kilograms, without the user or luggage.
“There are about 1000 injuries relating to mobility scooters across Australia each year.
“I ask that pedestrians and road users be mindful of the presence of mobility scooters both in residential areas and in the central business district, be patient and understanding.
“Pedestrians should practice care and patience when there are mobility scooters present and remember that we all have a responsibility to be safe when using our accessible walkways and roads.”
The entire July 30, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire July 30, 2025 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!
