| Motor scooters, both electric scooters and gas | | | | They are often used for traveling short distances |
| scooters, are a style of motorcycle that have a step | | | | around the neighborhood to perform errands. Due to |
| through frame and have become a very popular | | | | their size, fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically larger |
| method of travel all over the world. They have been | | | | storage room than a motorcycle, they are ideal in |
| scooting out of show rooms at record speed. But | | | | this situation. But in the hands of the youth, without |
| what many people do not realize is that motor | | | | any previous driving experience, they can be deadly. |
| scooters are classified as motor vehicles when it | | | | The ATV, go carts, dirt bikes and mini bikes are |
| comes to highway regulations. And although they are | | | | other vehicles that are often owned and operated |
| an object of desire for many they can also be | | | | by younger drivers. ATVs are usually used off road |
| dangerous for many. | | | | along with dirt bikes and mini bikes. Go karts are |
| They are typically regulated by state laws as either | | | | typically driven on paved tracks specifically made for |
| motorcycles or mopeds and are subject to many of | | | | the go cart. The go kart, mini bike, dirt bike or ATVs |
| the same regulations as other motor vehicles. With a | | | | don't usually get out on the open road where there |
| careful and alert driver a scooter can be as safe as | | | | are cars to contend with. Therefore they also avoid |
| any other vehicle on the road. But accidents | | | | many of the dangers that scooter drivers must face. |
| frequently occur when motor scooter drivers think | | | | Motor scooters are the latest craze, especially among |
| they are exempt from the conventions that apply to | | | | the youth market looking for a quick, cheap form of |
| automobiles. | | | | transportation. These youths can be too young to |
| Motor scooters (sometimes called mopeds or go | | | | own a driver's license, and the result is a dangerous |
| peds) are commonly purchased for use by children | | | | situation. They are more popular than ever, but as |
| and teenagers, most of whom do not even possess | | | | their popularity grows, people's awareness of driving |
| a valid license to drive. Licensed drivers have had a | | | | regulations has not kept pace, especially among the |
| certain amount of training behind the wheel of a car, | | | | younger generation. |
| unlike many motor scooter drivers under the age of | | | | Kids often think of motor scooters as toys, not as |
| 16. Without proper training children and young | | | | adult vehicles. But a scooter is not a toy. It's a |
| teenagers can easily find themselves in positions that | | | | potentially dangerous motor vehicle subject to certain |
| experienced drivers normally would not. | | | | laws and regulations. Also, youth often think of |
| Darting in and out of traffic with little driving | | | | themselves as being immune to automobile driving |
| experience, on a motor scooter that is so small it | | | | regulations and immune to accidents as well. "It won't |
| cannot be seen by other drivers, poses a hazard to | | | | happen to me" is a very common attitude among the |
| both the scooter driver and other motorists traveling | | | | youth. But it's precisely this attitude that can get |
| the highway. To be safe a motor scooter driver | | | | them into trouble. |
| must think of himself as being invisible to the other | | | | People need to be aware of the potential motor |
| drivers making their way down the busy streets. A | | | | scooter dangers and take appropriate action. Scooter |
| scooter driver cannot assume that other drivers will | | | | riders should pay special attention while driving, |
| see them. | | | | making sure not to drive erratically, but to be |
| A safe approach for a scooter driver would be to | | | | predictable and courteous to other drivers on the |
| assume that they are completely invisible to other | | | | road. |
| drivers and then act accordingly. A motor scooter | | | | Both kids and adults need training and experience |
| rider must be ready to maneuver out of harm's if | | | | before attempting to maneuver their scooters out in |
| another driver makes a sudden unexpected | | | | traffic. If parents will take a little time to train their |
| movement. Being safe means staying alert at all | | | | children, making sure they are aware of the rules of |
| times. Being safe also means following the rules of | | | | the road before they are allowed to travel on them, |
| the road and not making unnecessary or risky moves | | | | it could make driving a pleasure instead of a danger. |
| in traffic that would cause their moped scooter to | | | | With a little training and some wise words of advice |
| dart out in front of another moving vehicle. | | | | we can all make a difference in the lives of the |
| Automobile drivers must have time to react to a | | | | youth. Give them some training and experience and |
| scooter driver's movements. | | | | their motor scooters may be an object of fun |
| There are many reasons to own a motor scooter. | | | | instead of injury. |