Britain's growing army of 'scooter commuters' run the risk of severe injury because riders are wearing inappropriate clothing, the Institute of Advanced Motorists has warned.

Launching a new booklet, entitled Safer Scootering, at the NEC show, IAM Council Member Steve Norris said scooter riders could easily become fashion victims if they are involved in a crash.

"Commuters seem to think that riding a scooter is like an extension of driving a car. And they dress accordingly in suits, lightweight clothes with a jacket on top and normal footwear. But they should remember that if they come off their scooters, even at 30mph, they will regret not having worn the right protective clothing."

Mr Norris pointed out that many scooters have somewhere to store the protective clothing.

"As President of the Motor Cycle Industry Association

I am delighted that more and more people are turning to scooters as the ideal way to combat congestion and help the environment. But even scooters need riding with care.

"Statistics show that there were around 700 injuries in 1998 but there were seven fatalities, all on built-up roads. The IAM is concerned that with their new popularity, we will inevitably see a rise in those casualty

figures."