Paraplegic told by NT Police he can’t use attachment to make his wheelchair motorised because it goes too fast

A Territory man has been told by police he cannot use an attachment to make his wheelchair motorised because it goes too fast

A Territory man has been told by police he cannot use an attachment to make his wheelchair motorised because it goes too fast

A WELL-KNOWN Territorian has been caught up in an Australia-wide dilemma about the road rules concerning motorised wheelchairs.

Colin Dawson has been “pulled over” twice by police while driving his wheelchair in Alice Springs.

Mr Dawson has a battery powered motor.

The attachment, called a Firefly was funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, allows Colin Dawson to be more mobile.

The paraplegic was given the device around six months ago, on the recommendation of an occupational therapist.

“The first time I was heading to work from town and the policeman stopped me on the corner of Whittaker St and the highway,” he told the Centralian Advocate earlier this month.

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“He said the device on my wheelchair was illegal and could not be allowed on the road or footpath.

“I had been in the bicycle lane on the road along Parsons St and then on the footpath from Railway Tce crossing the highway with the lights.

“There have been 500 to 600 sold around Australia and I have been using it for six months without any problems in Alice Springs.

“Then about 4pm (one day) the same policeman stopped me. I was going along the footpath along Larapinta Drive and about to cross Van Senden Ave.”

Disability Advocacy Service acting CEO Val Dearman has discussed the motorised wheelchair issue with May Taylor at the Department of Transport.

She said the problem was “splitting hairs” as what Mr Dawson could legally do.

“The whole legislation is under review across Australia,” Ms Dearman said.

“What are you supposed to do?”

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However NT Police have told the ABC the device which enables the wheelchair to go faster than 10km/h needs to be registered as a motor vehicle.

NT Police’s Conan Robinson said the legislation about electric wheelchairs stated they could not exceed speeds of 10km/h.

“The device that Colin’s using is actually defined as a motor vehicle in our very specific legislation around the topic,” he said.

“It requires registration and compulsory third-party insurance.”

The Northern Territory Traffic Control Act 1987 states motorised wheelchairs that can exceed speeds of 10km/h are classified as vehicles, and require registration.

In all states except Queensland mobility devices are not permitted to travel faster than 10km/h.

Public use electric scooters, such as Lime scooters, are legally allowed to reach speeds of 25km/h in NSW and Queensland, but restricted to 10km/h or completely barred in other parts of Australia.

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The NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics has noted that there has been a lack of clear definitions in relation to motorised mobility devices, including where they can be legally used

Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia Adviser and president of the Physical Disability Council of NSW Chris Sparks said the various state and territory legislations had been under review for at least 10 years by the National Transport Commission.

The NT Police were contacted for a comment.