Authorities are calling on older people to recheck the way they are using their mobility-assisting devices such as electric wheelchairs and power-assisted bicycles, in order to avoid accidents involving falls.
There were 56 accidents involving people age 65 or older that occurred while using electric wheelchairs in the decade that ended last March, according to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, or NITE.
In September 2022, a man in his 90s died while on an electric wheelchair in Nagano Prefecture, after falling about 3 meters from a fenceless parking area due to a wheelchair operating error.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.