Safe Scooter Scooting, 3 Key Tips

The cold may be coming, but there are still some good scooter driving weeks ahead. In fact, this is one of the most beautiful times of the year to travel with the wind across your helmet, the warm sun on your brow, a cool breeze running under your chin, and yes, a few bug splats.

To keep yourselves safe this fall while maximizing the usefulness of your scooter, we offer several suggestions:

Safety in Simplicity: Sometimes the most obvious advice is the most worthwhile, such as these six simple tips.

1. Always wearing a helmet, whether you are driving one block or 30 miles. Many accidents happen only a mile away from home, even on a scooter.

2. Drive considerate. There is a lot of road rage out there today, and you are a lot smaller than most of the other vehicles.

3. Remember that a scooter is a relatively quiet and small vehicle in comparison to a two ton vehicle, so you have to drive as if nobody ever sees you. This is especially important on those left turns at intersections.

4. Watch the road for not only on coming traffic, but also road debris.

5. Check several times in your blind spots before merging into traffic or making a turn. Many hazards happen within seconds and can be easily missed the first time.

6. Slow and steady should be your motto in bumper to bumper traffic. Scooters can take off relatively fast today, but if a car isn't expecting you, they can pull right out in front of you.

Scooters are Great for Errands: A scooter is a lot like a bicycle in its errand capabilities, but in the cooler weather of Fall, they can provide more comfort, weather protection, and convenience for errands, provided that you follow a few simple tips:

1. Many scooters can easily be fitted with a pair of side bags to make errands a snap...quite literally as some of these are made to snap right off and double as grocery bags.

2. Map out the safest routes and businesses that are easiest to get to.

3. Be visible and safe by wearing bright reflective clothing and helmet.

Watch Out for Pedestrians: One of the biggest problems with electric scooters is that they are so quiet, you could literally install an outside speaker system and still be able to hear it at cruising speeds. This is reason enough to both turn up that amplified stereo system (if you've got one), or pay extra close attention while driving around town. A lot of people depend too much on their hearing to tell them when an oncoming vehicle is approaching. Do them and you a favor by being extra careful around blind corners.

Feel the need for sustainable speed? See what eco-engineers are doing to create super-charged but low-impact cars, bikes, and planes on Planet Green TV's Mean Green Machines.