Ms Capel was stepping from a doorway in Bingara’s main street in early August, and hit by a mobility scooter operator found to be travelling at the machine’s top speed adjustment.

Mr Williams did not advocate for restricting use of scooters, but rather putting in place regulations on right of way, driver assessment and scooter speed to protect all who share a footpath similar to regulations around those for vehicular road travel.

Mr Williams has proposed a system possible visual guidelines on footpaths to direct traffic and a regulatory system if scooter operators disregard the rules.

“One of the things I suggested is there be a thin line drawn on the footpath out toward the curb, and they should travel in that area, away from the doors,” he said.

“And if they weren’t travelling in that area, and going down the middle of the street, or near the doors, and they face a $20 on-the-spot fine, that was some suggestion to deter them.

“People need them as a utility tool to get around, especially the elderly and the frail, and those that (are impaired) physically, their legs mightn’t be in good shape.

“(Scooters save) lives for so many people, but at the same time, we have to keep our pedestrians safe.”

Mr Williams has brought the issue to national attention with the story, and invoked New England MP Barnaby Joyce’s support as well as other voices stating they had been injured by mobility scooters.

“If they go slowly it’s not a problem; the average walking speed is six kilometres per hour,” he said and added the scooter which hit his wife was travelling at about 15 kilometres per hour.

“Now if the machine weighed 80 kilos, he weighed 80 kilos, she got hit with 160 kilos at 15ks an hour, hence she was thrown into the air,” he said.

“And she’s in perfect health, with hard bones and good condition, and so on - now she’s had her life changed forever.”