Living with a disability, whether it’s temporary or permanent, shouldn’t put a damper on your daily routine. Wheelchairs and walkers are there to help you stay active and make moving around easier. In this article, we will discuss how to travel with your equipment.
At Wheelchair and Walker Rentals, we offer both manual and power wheelchairs in El Paso. These pieces of equipment will help you take back your independence and make moving around easier than before. To hear more about our inventory, call us at (915) 544-7144 today!
Road Safety Tips
Unfortunately, wheelchair users fall victim to road accidents more than other pedestrians. Because of this statistic, wheelchair and road safety are incredibly important in keeping all parties safe. If you want to take your power wheelchair on the road, you should follow the safety tips below.
Obey Traffic Laws
Even if your local traffic laws don’t require wheelchair users to follow them, you must do so anyway. If there is a sidewalk, try to stick to it, but if there is none near you, you should always go in the direction of oncoming traffic, so you can monitor the other vehicles.
Know Your Surroundings
Driving power wheelchairs in congested areas like cities can be dangerous if you aren’t aware of your surroundings. Make sure you have enough visibility while driving around and that you keep your head on a swivel when crossing streets. If you’re able to have someone with you, that would also increase your safety while out and about.
Have the Necessities
Preparation is the key to a safe outing. In case of an emergency, make sure your phone is fully charged and easy to reach. You should also make sure your wheelchair is completely charged and that you are knowledgeable of how long the charge lasts. Planning out your routes will also make navigation much easier.
Increase Your Visibility
The most common reason for wheelchair-related accidents is that wheelchairs can be hard to see. Sitting in a wheelchair sometimes puts you out of a driver’s line of sight, so you need to make sure they see you. Some cost-effective ways to boost your visibility are:
- Install lights/reflectors
- Use flags
- Maintain eye contact with drivers as you cross or pass them.
Power Wheelchairs Sold in El Paso
At Wheelchair and Walker Rentals, our power wheelchairs in El Paso are the safest and easiest to navigate compared to other models. Call us today at (915) 544-7144 to start your journey of independence.
