Toddler Scooter Safety

Enigmatic_Me

I wonder if someone technically minded can explain something in relation to child scooter safety.

We purchased a Paw Patrol Three wheel scooter (link below) for our Paw patrol daft 2 year old grand-daughter. After putting it together we thought it was faulty as there was no mechanism to stop the front wheel spinning right round. We took it back and got a replacement to discover the new one is the same.

Upon doing a bit of research today I find that many of these toddler scooters are the same as reading reviews on Amazon and Argos I have read they also spin 360 degrees.

We cannot get into our heads why they are made like this (there must be a valid reason) as we feel they are very unsafe. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

http://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/paw-patrol-3-wheel-scooter-322061

System

They've been made like that forever so have bicycles - the only difference being the brake cables on a bike tends to prevent them from spinning 360 degrees. What has changed is that people seem to have lost all grasp on reality, want everyone to be wrapped up in cotton wool and see danger and issues where there are none. Just exactly what do you think will happen if she turns them round so they're 180 degrees out? Nothing, nothing at all. It'll continue as it did when the handlebars were the other way around.

Personally I can't get it into my head why someone would feel they are very unsafe because of this.

glentoran99

Makes it easier to do tricks

Enigmatic_Me

Tarambor wrote: »

They've been made like that forever so have bicycles - the only difference being the brake cables on a bike tends to prevent them from spinning 360 degrees. What has changed is that people seem to have lost all grasp on reality, want everyone to be wrapped up in cotton wool and see danger and issues where there are none. Just exactly what do you think will happen if she turns them round so they're 180 degrees out? Nothing, nothing at all. It'll continue as it did when the handlebars were the other way around.

Personally I can't get it into my head why someone would feel they are very unsafe because of this.

Thanks and I agree with you but others in the family think it is unsafe using the scenario if she is going along and all of a sudden turns the wheel and it proceeds to go right round she is going to have one nasty fall, whereas if the wheel was to lock it would not be so bad?

rmg1

Surely, if the wheel goes around 180 or 360 degrees, then the direction of travel will remain the same.
If the wheel locks up completely, then all forward momentum of the scooter will cease (with the added item of the rear wheels lifting through inertia) in which case the human body (i.e. your granddaughter) being thrown forward over the top of the handlebars.

I could, however, be looking at this completely wrong.

PasturesNew

What's probably more unsafe is the number of parents who toss their kids out of the house with an assortment of these.... unsupervised, not far from roads, around parked cars .... and think that's "good because they're outside playing".

daveyjp

If she is 2 and unable to control a scooter, don't buy her a scooter, unless you are happy to walk alongside.

If you leave her to it she will fall over and hurt herself, but isn't that part of learning and growing up?

unforeseen

Enigmatic_Me wrote: »

Thanks and I agree with you but others in the family think it is unsafe using the scenario if she is going along and all of a sudden turns the wheel and it proceeds to go right round she is going to have one nasty fall, whereas if the wheel was to lock it would not be so bad?

That can happen even if the wheel only turns 10-15° or even hitting a small hole/crack on a path

GwylimT

She is two, therefore she will be physically supervised or in a safe area, such as a garden and closely watched, so no problem.

System

PasturesNew wrote: »

What's probably more unsafe is the number of parents who toss their kids out of the house with an assortment of these.... unsupervised, not far from roads, around parked cars .... and think that's "good because they're outside playing".

Like they used to do for decades without an issue? It never used to be a problem but now all of a sudden it is? Maybe parents should do what parents are supposed to do and teach their kids how to be safe instead of leaving it to the school to teach them pedestrian safety.

Like I said....wrapping up in cotton wool.