The Wheelchair Alliance has called on Government to remove ‘ridiculous’ guidance that could see children needing driving licences for wheelchairs. Here, Nick Goldup, COO and chair of the Alliance explains more:

The Wheelchair Alliance is an organisation which represents the voices of wheelchair users and we have urged the Government to act now on an update to current guidance that would require disabled children to have driving licences and insurance for their powered wheelchairs.

The Using Mobility Scooters And Powered Wheelchairs rules also use outdated, offensive language, referring to wheelchairs as ‘invalid carriages’.

The updates to this Government guidance were published quietly in Spring 2024 but only brought to the attention of the Wheelchair Alliance towards the end of last year. The Alliance’s User Engagement Group were very vocal on the impact this would have, highlighting that the updated guidelines stated that powered wheelchairs over the 150kg weight limit (200kg if there are medical add-ons), will be changing its classification to 'not in a class'. Such a change in classification would mean that powered wheelchairs in this category:

• can only be used on the road
• cannot be used on pavements, pedestrian areas, cycle tracks, or cycle lanes
• wheelchair users of all ages must be registered with the DVLA and have vehicle insurance
• users must hold a valid driving licence

The Alliance reacted quickly, writing to the then Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh. We also contacted other charities working with wheelchair users and their carers to see if they were aware of these changes. A subsequent round table meeting was held in October with a wide ranging group from the sector, representing charities, the NHS and wheelchair manufacturers.

Following the meeting, with funding from Motability Foundation, the Alliance coordinated a survey which saw more than 400 responses from powered wheelchair users and their carers. The results of this survey have been published in a report from the Wheelchair Alliance.

After the publication of the report, the Wheelchair Alliance were invited to meet with the Department for Transport to discuss.

Myself and Karen Pearce, director and project manager, attended the meeting in London. At the meeting it transpired that the rules outlined in the guidance were actually already law!

While this is a worse situation than anticipated, with many powered wheelchair users unwittingly breaking the law when using their wheelchair outside of their homes, the Department for Transport are open to working with the Alliance on this. But, unless it is made a priority, it could take years to change the law and guidance.

Therefore the Wheelchair Alliance have urged the Government to make it a priority to make much-needed changes to the current guidance and law. This includes the removal of the requirement for a driving licence, the eradication of the use of ‘invalid carriages’, along with simplification of the classification system.

If you are a wheelchair user and would like to help the Wheelchair Alliance drive forward positive change, you can sign up to our free membership.

As a member you will have access to a range of benefits and online resources, receive updates via our email newsletter, and support us in our mission to influence Government and healthcare providers into recognising the importance of timely and appropriate wheelchair provision.

To find out more or sign up for free membership, visit www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk

Write-up by Wheelchair Alliance
May 2025