Van and mobility scooter collide outside Havelock North hotel

Emergency services are at the scene of an apparent mobility scooter accident in Havelock North. Photo / Paul Taylor

A man has minor injuries after a van and a mobility scooter collided in central Havelock North.

A police spokeswoman said they were called to the scene outside Porters Hotel on Te Aute Rd about 1.25pm.

A man lying on the road was treated by ambulance staff. The road was blocked for a short time. A St John spokeswoman said the man had minor injuries.

Eastern Police district road policing manager Matt Broderick says the fact only minor injured were suffered shows the incident was a low speed one.

"In effect the system has worked, people have made a mistake and the system has compensated for it."

He said it was important for people to remember to share the road, whether they be motorists, mobility scooter users or pedestrians.

"We share the road, we share the road with pedestrians and we share the road with people who are less able than ourselves."

He said mobility scooter users needed to be aware they were not fast when crossing roads, and ability to observe traffic is possibly compromised.

"Generally speaking mobility scooter should be considered as pedestrian traffic."

He said it was relatively rare in Hawke's Bay to hear of mobility scooters colliding with vehicles.

He said Hawke's Bay town centres were relatively well set up for those with mobility issues.

"Generally speaking our towns and cities are fairly well equipped."